December 09, (THEWILL) – Juventus earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over defending champions Napoli on Friday night, thanks to a second decisive goal in a week from defender Federico Gatti. The win allowed Juventus to leapfrog league leaders Inter Milan and temporarily take the Serie A summit.
The match saw chances at both ends, with Napoli wasting two gilt-edged opportunities in the first half. However, Gatti rose highest to head home a cross from Andrea Cambiaso in the second half to grab the winner for Juventus. It marked the first time Napoli had failed to beat Juventus since April 2021.
Juventus were missing several key players through injury, including Paul Pogba and Dusan Vlahovic, who was forced off with a muscular problem later in the second half of the match. Still, Gatti’s goal proved enough to clinch the three points.
The win leaves Juventus ahead in the standings before second-place Inter host Udinese on Saturday, while Napoli remain in fifth but now trail Juve by 12 points. Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri praised his team’s determination to grind out the victory.
The result puts pressure on Inter while also demonstrating Juve’s ability to compete with the division’s top sides, even with injuries and player absences. They will need to maintain this form as they push for their first Scudetto since 2021.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
