Juventus on Sunday stopped Inter from replacing SSC Napoli at the top of Serie A by beating their fierce rivals 1-0 and moving into the UEFA Champions League positions.
Francisco Conceicao made sure that Napoli would stay two points ahead of reigning champions Inter by classily tucking home the winning goal 16 minutes before the end of an entertaining contest in Turin.
Portugal attacker Conceicao netted his fourth goal of the season in all competitions after brilliant work from Randal Kolo Muani to give Juve a third straight league win.
Photo: Reuters
Juve are in fourth place on 46 points, ahead on goal-difference from SS Lazio, who had done wasteful Inter a favor by holding Napoli to a 2-2 draw on Saturday, but Napoli remain at the summit with Antonio Conte’s team and Inter facing off in Naples in two weeks, a match which could well be key to the destination of the scudetto.
“The win tonight gives us confidence and an awareness of what we’re capable of,” said Thiago Motta, whose first season in charge of Juve has been difficult. “They deserve it for the effort they put in during training and the fact that they give everything in every match.”
Juve now turn their attentions to tomorrow’s return leg of a Champions League playoff with PSV Eindhoven, with Motta’s side leading 2-1 following the first leg in Turin.
Sunday’s match was not quite as exciting as the 4-4 draw at the San Siro in October last year, but the scoreline did not reflect the number of chances created by both teams, and in particular Inter.
Simone Inzaghi’s side were left to rue a clutch of missed opportunities in the first half, with Lautaro Martinez wasting the clearest opening.
Argentina striker Martinez smashed over the bar from point-blank range 10 minutes before halftime after being perfectly set up by Denzel Dumfries.
Dumfries was also at fault for Inter not leading at the break when he headed over Martinez’s cross when completely unmarked in the 19th minute and just before halftime smashed an effort off the post with Martinez waiting for a tap-in in the middle of the penalty area.
Neither side created another decent chance before Conceicao, who also forced an excellent save from Yann Sommer in the first half, sent the home fans and Motta wild in celebration.
Inter knew the game was up when substitute Marcus Thuram, who was playing against his brother Khephren while his father Lilian watched in stands, lashed over in the final moments.
“We’re really disappointed, but the boys played well tonight,” Inzaghi said. “Obviously, we needed to be better in front of goal and we should have been ahead at halftime, but the approach in the second half was not quite as good as in the first.”
Earlier, Como pulled away from the Serie A relegation zone with a convincing 2-0 away win at ACF Fiorentina.
Assane Diao and Nico Paz struck in each half to give Como a surprise success in Florence which snapped a three-match losing streak and moved them up to 13th.
Cesc Fabregas’ team are five points above Parma, who sit just inside the relegation zone after losing 1-0 to AS Roma, after a deserved win at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Wealthy Como invested heavily in the winter transfer window in the hope of staying in Serie A and Diao netted his fourth goal in seven matches since arriving from Real Betis Balompie, but Argentina international Paz has been the star of the show at Como and he sealed the win in the 66th minute with a rocket of a shot which took his league tally to six goals.
Alessandro Nesta began his second spell as AC Monza head coach with a goalless draw with US Lecce which did little to boost their survival hopes.
Monza recalled Italy icon Nesta on Monday last week after firing his replacement Salvatore Bocchetti, but stay bottom, seven points behind Empoli, who sit just outside the relegation zone and were beaten 3-0 at Udinese.
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