SSC Napoli’s title hopes are fading after losing 3-1 at Udinese to leave them six points behind Serie A leaders Juventus, with only seven rounds remaining.
To add to Napoli’s misery on Sunday, top goalscorer Gonzalo Higuain was sent off following two bookings. Higuain was visibly agitated and had to be moved off the pitch by fellow players.
Second spot is also in jeopardy, as third-placed AS Roma moved to within four points of Napoli after winning the derby match against SS Lazio 4-1.
Photo: EPA
Bruno Fernandes gave Udinese the lead from the penalty spot in the 14th minute and although Higuain leveled with his 30th goal in 31 matches, Fernandes scored again on the stroke of halftime, with Cyril Thereau sealing the result.
It could have been worse for Napoli, as goalkeeper Gabriel saved another Fernandes penalty in the 26th minute. Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri was sent to the stands for his protests.
“I only told the referee that he was doing very badly, but that is just an opinion,” Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri said.
“Higuain told me that he did not do anything and he got a second yellow card,” Sarri added.
ACF Fiorentina’s chances of third spot and the final UEFA Champions League spot also diminished as they was held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man UC Sampdoria.
They are seven points behind Roma and one above Inter, who lost 2-1 at home to Torino after being reduced to nine men following the dismissals of Miranda and Yuto Nagatomo.
AC Milan, whose players were wearing black armbands following the death of former player and coach Cesare Maldini, got off to the perfect start at Atalanta BC, but went on to lose 2-1, with home player Mauricio Pinilla scoring a stunning overhead-kick.
Relegation-threatened sides Frosinone and US Citta di Palermo are further in trouble after losing 4-0 and 3-1 at Genoa and AC Chievo Verona respectively.
Lazio had a number of regular players out through injury, especially at the back and that had a part to play in Roma’s first goal as Stephan El Shaarawy was left unmarked to head Lucas Digne’s cross into the bottom-right corner.
Miralem Pjanic should have extended Roma’s lead, but his shot from distance hit the right post.
Roma did double their lead shortly after the hour when Diego Perotti’s long-range strike crashed off the left upright and substitute Edin Dzeko rushed in to fire the rebound into the bottom-right corner with his first touch, four minutes after coming off the bench.
Lazio came close to getting one back when Wesley Hoedt headed onto the post and Marco Parolo’s header was pushed onto the bar by Wojciech Szczesny.
They did get back into the match in the 75th minute when Miroslav Klose headed over the onrushing Szczesny and Parolo tapped into the empty net.
However, goals from Alessandro Florenzi and Perotti secured the points.
Hoedt was sent off in stoppage-time following a second yellow card.
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