Napoli Extend Serie A Lead with Hard-Fought Win over Lecce
Napoli maintained their Serie A dominance with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lecce, extending their lead at the summit to five points. Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo proved to be the match-winner, bundling home the only goal after a scramble in the box.
Despite their dominance, Napoli struggled to create clear-cut chances against a spirited Lecce side. Romelu Lukaku missed a golden opportunity from close range, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano were kept on the bench.
Lecce, who had suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Fiorentina in their previous outing, showed resilience and determination. They matched Napoli’s intensity and could have easily earned a point on another day.
Meanwhile, Atalanta celebrated coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s 400th match in style, thrashing Verona 6-1. Marten de Roon, Charles De Ketelaere, Mateo Retegui, and Ademola Lookman all found the net as Atalanta raced into a 5-0 lead within the first half hour.
Retegui, who has scored 10 goals in his first nine league matches for Atalanta, attributed his success to the support of his teammates and fans. “It’s down to the faith shown in me by the lads and the fans,” he said.
Verona coach Paolo Zanetti was left shell-shocked as his team was outplayed and outclassed. Amin Sarr scored a consolation goal for Verona, but it was a mere footnote in Atalanta’s dominant display.