Rasmus Hojlund struck twice as Napoli beat Juventus 2-1 to move top of Serie A. The Danish striker decided the match with goals in the seventh and 78th minutes.
Napoli claimed a vital 2-1 win over Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to move to the top of Serie A, one point clear of second place Inter. The champions started with intensity and were rewarded early as their forward play unsettled the visitors. Juventus struggled to deal with Napoli’s pace in wide areas and often fell deep to protect their box.
Rasmus Hojlund provided the breakthrough in the seventh minute. David Neres raced past Teun Koopmeiners and sent a low cross into the area, where Hojlund slid in ahead of Lloyd Kelly to beat Michele Di Gregorio. The goal lifted the home crowd and gave Napoli the edge in a tight first half.
Napoli continued to push for a second. Giovanni Di Lorenzo forced a fine save from Di Gregorio with a glancing header, while Scott McTominay struck the post with a powerful effort. Conte’s side created space well but lacked the finishing touch to extend their lead.
Juventus found a route back into the match shortly before the hour. After smooth build-up in midfield, Weston McKennie threaded a pass to Kenan Yildiz inside the box. The young forward guided a precise shot into the bottom left corner to level the contest.
Napoli responded with renewed pressure and controlled the final stages. Hojlund almost restored the lead after charging past Kelly but fired high and wide. McTominay also tested the Juventus defence with a driven effort that flashed past the post.
The winner arrived in the 78th minute. Neres delivered another dangerous cross to the far post, prompting McKennie to head the ball back into the centre. Hojlund reacted quickest, rising in the six-yard area to nod home from close range. It was a decisive, instinctive finish that showcased his penalty-box sharpness.
Hojlund’s impact defined the match. His movement troubled Juventus throughout and his two goals came at crucial moments. Neres also played a major role, providing consistent danger down the right and assisting both strikes with excellent service.
Di Gregorio kept Juventus alive with several strong stops, while Locatelli influenced play in midfield and McKennie set up Yildiz’s equaliser. Yildiz offered composure and clinical finishing, giving Juventus hope during a difficult evening. Napoli’s midfield trio-controlled tempo well and limited Juventus to few chances.
The numbers reflected Napoli’s dominance. They produced nine shots to Juventus’ five and generated a higher expected goals total of 1.66xG to Juve’s 0.29xG. Juventus struggled to create sustained pressure and relied heavily on transitions.
Napoli move one point ahead of Inter and maintain their unbeaten home record in Serie A this year. They travel to face Udinese next, aiming to strengthen their position at the summit. For now, Napoli turn their focus to a midweek clash with Benfica in the UEFA Champions League league phase. Conte’s side resume Serie A duties away to Udinese next weekend. Juventus remain seventh and will turn their focus to a midweek Champions League clash with Pafos in Turin. Juve’s next Serie A fixture will be a trip to Bologna where they’ll look to regain consistency.
