Rome — Napoli faced a tumultuous season last year, employing three different managers as they struggled to defend their Serie A title, ultimately finishing in 10th place. However, this season has seen a remarkable turnaround under the guidance of Antonio Conte, who was brought on board in July. As the year comes to a close, Napoli finds itself level on points at the top of the Italian league with Atalanta in an impressive resurgence.
In their last match for the year, Napoli edged past relegation-threatened Venezia 1-0, thanks to a late goal from substitute Giacomo Raspadori. This victory puts Napoli in a tie with Atalanta on points, but they are positioned second in the standings based on goal difference. Defending champions Inter Milan sit just one point behind, although they have a game in hand, adding to the competitive nature of the league.
Conte expressed his competitive spirit, stating, “Even if I play cards with my daughter I want to win.” He emphasized his refusal to settle for minimal goals and highlighted the importance of understanding the club’s objectives. Meanwhile, Atalanta secured a draw against Lazio, and Inter recorded a decisive win against Cagliari.
On the same day, Juventus and Fiorentina played to a 2-2 draw in a match briefly halted due to discriminatory chants directed at Juventus player Dusan Vlahovic. In another notable clash, AC Milan also drew 1-1 with Roma.
After Luciano Spalletti led Napoli to the Serie A championship in the 2022-23 season, a series of coaching changes occurred last year, leading to a disappointing performance that saw the team finishing 41 points behind Inter. Napoli’s captain, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, remarked, “What happened is in the past. The present is what counts.” He acknowledged the team’s position at the top but noted that there is still a long way to go in the season.
In their game against Venezia, Napoli found it challenging to penetrate the opposing defense, especially against goalkeeper Filip Stankovic, the son of former football star Dejan Stankovic. It was Raspadori who finally found the back of the net in the 79th minute, scoring shortly after entering the field. Raspadori highlighted the significance of winning such tough matches and expressed confidence in the team’s progress.
The encounter also featured a missed penalty by Romelu Lukaku, who saw his shot saved by Stankovic, while a subsequent effort hit the post. Despite dominating play with 25 shots compared to Venezia’s four, Napoli’s goal tally still lags behind other top teams, with only 27 goals scored so far. Conte acknowledged the team’s improvement but identified the need for greater scoring efficiency.
In the controversial match between Juventus and Fiorentina, the suspension due to racial slurs aimed at Vlahovic underscored the ongoing issues within football culture. Referee intervention led to a warning for spectators, emphasizing the consequences of continued discriminatory behavior.
In the match itself, Juventus struck first with a goal from Khephren Thuram, but Fiorentina responded with an equalizer from Moise Kean. Throughout the second half, both teams exchanged blows, with Riccardo Sottil netting a crucial late equalizer. Juventus remains unbeaten but has drawn more than half of its games, trailing the leaders.
AC Milan’s match against Roma saw Tijjani Reijnders score early, only for Paulo Dybala to level the score. Milan’s coach faced ejection due to protests, reflecting the tension of the game. Meanwhile, Torino showed resilience by bouncing back from a two-goal deficit to secure a draw against Udinese.
