Champions back to winning ways but come under siege at home
Scott McTominay and Napoli ended a three-game run without a win in Serie A with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at home to Sassuolo.
McTominay played the full 90 minutes as Antonio Conte’s men claimed all three points at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and maintained their third-placed position in the Italian top flight.
It was an important victory for Napoli given that they had drawn their past three matches in the league against Verona, Internazionale and Parma and lost ground in their quest to defend the Scudetto.
Scott McTominay, right, celebrates with his Napoli teammates after the goal against Sassuolo.placeholder image
Scott McTominay, right, celebrates with his Napoli teammates after the goal against Sassuolo. | Getty Images
This was Napoli’s third match in six days and they took the lead on seven minutes through Slovakian midfielder Stanislav Lobotka. Sassuolo - who had Scotland internationalist Josh Doig in their starting XI - pushed a jaded Gli Azzurri all the way and had 21 shots on goal, but the hosts held firm.
Man Utd loanee Rasmus Hojlund led the line for Napoli once more, but it was a fruitless evening for the Dane. He has now gone five matches without scoring a goal.
Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour remains sidelined after surgery and wasn’t listed in the Napoli starting XI.
Miller plays in Inter defeat
Leaders Inter remain six points clear of Napoli after they won 1-0 away at Udinese earlier on Saturday. Scotland midfielder Lennon Miller came on as a half-time substitute.
AC Milan are in second place on 43 points, ahead of Napoli on goal difference, although the Rossoneri could move ahead when they take on Lecce at the San Siro.
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Bologna, who face Celtic in the Europa League on Thursday, are also in action on Sunday when they host Fiorentina.
Napoli’s busy schedule continues next week. They face FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday evening before facing fourth-placed Juventus in Serie away on Sunday evening.