Napoli Extend Lead with 2-0 Win Over Verona

Napoli extended their lead at the top of Serie A to four points after securing a 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona. The 2023 champions took an early lead in the fifth minute when Giovanni di Lorenzo’s shot hit the post, ricocheted off goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo’s back and rolled into the net. Napoli sealed the win with a powerful strike from former Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa in the 61st minute, marking their fifth consecutive victory.

Despite former Manchester United players Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay threatening, Napoli remained in control throughout. Napoli’s manager, Antonio Conte, who has won Serie A with Juventus and Inter Milan could be on the brink of a third Serie A title with Napoli this season. However, the squad was missing forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has been linked with a January transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool or Chelsea.

Additionally, Bournemouth’s Philip Billing was absent after his loan move to Napoli. Meanwhile, Inter Milan, the reigning champions, kept up the pressure on Napoli with a 1-0 win over Venezia. Matteo Darmian scored the only goal of the match, converting a rebound to give Simone Inzaghi’s side the points. Despite missing key players due to injuries including Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Yann Bisseck, Inter bounced back from their Italian Super Cup loss to AC Milan.

Inzaghi praised the team for their resilience, noting the challenge of playing tired after the Super Cup defeat. Atalanta, in third place, could only manage a goalless draw with Udinese, missing an opportunity to close the gap on the top two.