Napoli heartbreak for Spalletti: Hojlund lifts Conte, top spot awaits | OneFootball

Now it’s a fact: the Maradona is a cursed stadium for Juve, who, for the seventh year in a row, return home empty-handed. Once again, on the day of the return to the city of the main architect of Napoli’s third Scudetto, it’s Napoli who celebrate. Conte’s group, led by Hojlund, take all three points: they win another direct clash and move alone to the top of the table, one point ahead of Inter.

Naples Tears for Spalletti: Hojlund Launches Conte, Azzurri Alone at the Top (Awaiting Milan)

A crossroads of memories, identities, and different perspectives. Napoli-Juventus, already a match that transcends a simple sporting contest, today takes on an even deeper meaning: Antonio Conte leads Napoli, Luciano Spalletti sits on the Juventus bench. A narrative reversal intertwining two schools of thought, two personal experiences, and two cities where both have left an indelible mark.

Two years ago, on December 7, 2023, Luciano Spalletti was awarded honorary citizenship by the Naples City Council. Today, exactly 731 days later, just minutes before kickoff of Napoli-Juventus, it was the crowd at the “Maradona” who symbolically stripped him of that honor, with a reception that felt like a popular revocation.

Napoli beat Juventus 2-1 in the marquee match of the 14th round, reclaiming first place after Inter’s temporary overtake. The match marked Luciano Spalletti’s return to the Maradona, but it was Antonio Conte’s team that stole the show, driven by a Hojlund in leader mode and a Neres who systematically opened up spaces. This clash is not just a battle for the standings: it’s a true tactical laboratory, where Conte once again shows his ability to reinvent roles, identities, and mechanisms even in the midst of an emergency. The opening exchanges show a Napoli immediately in control of the pitch. Juventus, on the other hand, struggle to find passing lanes and density in attack, not helped by the Yildiz false nine experiment, which in the first half fails to deliver the desired effects.

In the 7th minute, Neres accelerates, burns past Cabal, and sends in a low cross that Hojlund turns into a goal, beating Kelly to the ball. It’s the play that sets the tone for the first half: Napoli in total control, Juventus forced to chase. A few minutes later, McTominay is the protagonist with two headers that nearly double the lead. Di Lorenzo, with a powerful header, again tests Di Gregorio, who keeps Juventus in the game. Spalletti reacts immediately: Cabal stays in the dressing room, David comes on to increase attacking weight. Juventus show more courage, but it’s still Napoli who nearly double their lead with Hojlund, only for Di Gregorio to make a miraculous save. In the 59th minute, after an aggressive recovery by Locatelli, McKennie spots Yildiz’s run behind the defensive line, times the play perfectly, and beats Milinkovic-Savic with a diagonal shot. It’s Juventus’ first shot on target, and it makes it 1-1.

Juventus seem to have found balance, but the substitution of Yildiz (one of the sharpest players) complicates things. Napoli regain ground and, in the 78th minute, the match is decided. Neres delivers a perfect cross to the far post, McKennie tries to get ahead of Hojlund but ends up inadvertently serving him the ball just a few meters from goal. The Dane gratefully heads in his second of the night. On Monday night, the reigning Italian champions could only be caught by Milan, who play the late game away to Torino. A bitter night, instead, for Juve, who suffer their third league defeat of the season and remain stuck in seventh place, eight points off the top and four behind fourth-placed Roma.

THE MATCH SUMMARY

NAPOLI-JUVENTUS 2-1

Napoli (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic 6; Beukema 6.5, Rrahmani 7, Buongiorno 6.5; Di Lorenzo 6, Elmas 6.5, McTominay 6.5, Olivera 6.5 (25′ 2nd half Spinazzola 6); Neres 7.5 (35′ 2nd half Politano 6), Hojlund 7.5, Lang 6 (41′ 2nd half Vergara N/A). Coach: Conte 7

Juventus (3-4-1-2): Di Gregorio 6.5; Kalulu 5, Kelly 5, Koopmeiners 5.5; Cambiaso 6 (26′ 2nd half Kostic 5), Locatelli 6, Thuram 5.5 (37′ 2nd half Zhegrova N/A), Cabal 5 (1′ 2nd half David 5.5); McKennie 5; Conceiçao 6 (26′ 2nd half Miretti 6), Yildiz 7 (26′ 2nd half Openda N/A). Coach: Spalletti 5.5

Referee: La Penna Scorers: 7′ and 33′ 2nd half Hojlund (N), 14′ 2nd half Yildiz (J) Booked: Buongiorno (N), Kalulu (J), Beukema (N) Sent off: –

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.