Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was in red-hot form as Napoli ended Juventus’ eight-match winning run without conceding in Serie A with an emphatic 5-1 victory in Friday’s top-of-the-table clash to move 10 points clear at the summit.
Juve had gone on a remarkable run of form since losing to Milan in early October, winning 8 consecutive matches without conceding, but their defence was no match for the brilliance of Napoli’s dreaded attack of Osimhen and Georgian revelation Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Napoli duo have starred in Serie A this season and were at it for the Partenopei’s opener as Osimhen headed in a rebound in the 14th minute after Szczesny made a save to deny Kvaratskhelia.
ALSO READ:Â LaLiga Matchday 17 preview: The first Basque derby of season is finally here
Osimhen turned provider by playing in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Napoli’s second at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but Angel Di Maria pulled one back before half-time.
However, Luciano Spalletti’s side pulled clear through another goal from Osimhen, either side of strikes from Amir Rrahmani and Elif Elmas, to put one hand on the Scudetto.
Napoli edged in front when Wojciech Szczesny palmed Kvaratskhelia’s acrobatic attempt into the path of Osimhen for a simple finish from close range.
Di Maria sent a dipping effort against the crossbar, but Kvaratskhelia doubled Napoli’s lead with a composed finish after Bremer’s error allowed Osimhen to play his team-mate in.
ALSO READ:Â Suspended Man City defender Benjamin Mendy cleared of 6 counts of rape, but….
Juve gave themselves a lifeline through Di Maria’s low finish past Szczesny after exchanging passes with Arkadiusz Milik, though Napoli should have cut out the danger.
Meret did brilliantly to prevent Rrahmani putting into his own net and that proved an even bigger save when the same player fired in on the half-volley from a corner.
The hosts were out of sight with 65 minutes gone as, after more sloppy play from Bremer, Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen again linked up for the latter to header across Szczesny.
Elmas, brought on at half-time for the injured Matteo Politano, added a fifth for Napoli with a shot that deflected in off Alex Sandro to round off a five-star showing.
Osimhen currently leads the scoring charts with 12 goals (15G/A), while Kvaratskhelia (14G/A) leads the assists charts with 7 assists.
