03 March 2024
Juventus fell to a third defeat of 2024 following a 2-1 loss at the Diego Maradona stadium.
Napoli took the lead with three minutes to play of the first half through Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Federico Chiesa grabbed an equaliser on 81 minutes.
However, Napoli were awarded a penalty with five minutes remaining and although Wojciech Szczesny saved Victor Osimhen’s spot kick the goalkeeper was helpless to keep out Giacomo Raspadori’s rebound.
At the final whistle, the Bianconeri were left ruing missing five gilt-edged chances.
THE MATCH
Both Juventus and Napoli appeared in the mood to take the game to their opponents from kick-off. With not even three minutes in and each side had already created an opportunity for an early goal.
However, the game’s first clear-cut chance fell to the Bianconeri, and the on-form player of the moment, Dusan Vlahovic. A cross from the right from Federico Chiesa picked out the number 9, who turned his header back across goal but watched as the ball bounced the wrong side of the far post.
On 28 minutes Napoli tested Wojciech Szczesny from a free-kick. The goalkeeper reacted sharply to save the rebound at the feet of Frank Anguissa.
On his first Serie A start of the season Samuel Iling Jr had a chance to repeat his goal-scoring full debut feat from last season - when he scored at Atalanta - but failed to keep down a volley after another sharp delivery from the right, from Andrea Cambiaso.
Two minutes later Vlahovic was sent through on goal by Chiesa. The striker steadied himself before releasing the shot, which cannoned off the post.
In the 39th minute Alex Sandro headed off his own goalline but three minutes later, the Bianconeri backline was punctured. A cross from the right was met by Bremer, but the defender’s header fell perfectly for Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose volley sneaked in at Szczesny’s near post.
There was still time before the half time whistle for Juve to spurn another glorious chance. It was Vlahovic who failed to capitalise on pressure by Daniele Rugani who forced a mistake at the edge of the hosts’ penalty area. The number nine curled his shot off target with only Alex Meret to beat.
Juve’s wasteful ways continued into the second half. Napoli only just scrambled the ball clear from a Chiesa cross. Locatelli picked a pass to the feet of Cambiaso, who skied his shot over the bar.
On 61 minutes Vlahovic did force a save out of Meret with his most difficult chance of the evening.
Inside the final 10 minutes Juve found a lifeline. Chiesa exchanged passes with Carlos Alcaraz at the edge of the area but still had it all to do. The number 7 picked out an unstoppable curler into the bottom corner to draw the Bianconeri level.
However, the drama was far from over.
Following an on-field VAR review the referee awarded Napoli a penalty after a Joseph Nonge tackle had caught Victor Osimhen on the ankle.
For the first time this season Szczesny had a penalty to contend with. And the keeper thwarted Osimhen’s effort - only for the rebound to be rifled home by Giacomo Raspadori.
Yet, there was still time for Juve to spurn another chance. Two minutes into stoppage time Rugani was presented with a chance six yards out, but last week’s match winner this time hit his shot over the bar.
NAPOLI 2-1 JUVENTUS (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: 42′ Kvaratskhelia, 81′ Chiesa, 88′ Raspadori
NAPOLI: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani (63′ Ostigard), Juan Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Traorè (63′ Zielinski); Politano (63′ Raspadori), Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia (92′ Lindstrom). Subs not used: Contini, Gollini, Natan, Simeone, Mazzocchi, Dendoncker. Coach: Calzona.
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Rugani, Bremer, Alex Sandro; Cambiaso (64′ Weah), Miretti (75′ Nonge) ((88′ Danilo)), Locatelli, Alcaraz (88′ Milik), Iling Jr (75′ Yildiz); Vlahovic, Chiesa. Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Daffara, Gatti, Kostić, Djaló, Nicolussi Caviglia. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Mariani
Bookings: 18′ Vlahovic , 26′ Bremer, 28′ Cambiaso, 47′ Traorè, 86′ Nonge
