Napoli gets late winner against Juventus to narrow Serie A title race

A 90th-minute goal pulled Napoli within one point of Juventus in the Serie A table. How did Kalidou Koulibaly’s header impact the race for the scudetto?

Juventus welcomed Napoli to Torino for a clash of the two clubs at the top of the Serie A table. The hosts held a four-point advantage entering the match, but a recent backslide in form allowed Napoli to visit with a chance to pull within a point of the league crown. Juventus allowed their visitors back into the race after dropping points over the past month against Serie A cellar-dwellers such as SPAL and Crotone.

Passions were heated entering the match, as Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri flipped his middle finger defiantly to Juventus supporters ahead of the match. His club responded with a strong effort. Tenaciously fighting for three points, the Neapolitans finally came through victoriously to make this year’s Serie A race a lot more interesting.

For most of the match, it appeared that luck was running out on Napoli.

In the first half, Napoli had the lion’s share of the opportunities as they pressed for a go-ahead goal. But only one of their six shots made it on target to challenge Gianliugi Buffon. The combination of inaccurate finishing, good defensive recovery by Juventus, and the presence of Buffon prevented the visitors from getting on the scoreboard.

The second half saw much of the same, as Napoli continued to enjoy the bulk of the possession and the scoring chances. Juventus doggedly kept Napoli off the score sheet, but it felt like only a matter of time before the visitors would find the net.

The go-ahead strike finally came in the 90th minute. A hard shot by Lorenzo Insigne was parried away by Buffon. The ensuing corner kick from José Callejón found Kalidou Koulibaly streaking in unmarked. Koulibaly made the most of the gift, heading the ball past Buffon for the late winner.

The win by Napoli tightened things up considerably in the Serie A race. Until Koulibaly’s strike found the back of the net, it appeared that the two clubs would remain four points apart. But by winning on the road, Napoli pulled within a single point in the standings. Now both clubs

What does it mean for the Serie A race moving forward?

For Juventus, failing to preserve the draw against Napoli made their Serie A defense far less certain than it was a month ago. The defending champions close out the year with a tough slate. Next weekend, they head to Milan to face an Inter team in fifth place and trying to leapfrog the two Roman clubs for Champions League qualification.

A home match against mid-table Bologna follows. Juventus then takes on AC Milan midweek in the Coppa Italia final. That means Juventus will also have short rest ahead of the road trip to take on third-place Roma at Stadio Olimpico. The season concludes with a home date against relegation-threatened Verona.

Napoli doesn’t necessarily have a cakewalk to close out the season, but they also don’t have the extra match to manage. They take on a pair of mid-table clubs in Fiorentina, Torino, and Sampdoria over the next three weekends. Then Napoli closes out its campaign against another relegation risk, Crotone.

Both clubs will be favored in every match, though Juventus has far more difficult road challenges against Inter and Roma. Napoli, by contrast, gets to take on ninth-place Fiorentina and eighth-place Sampdoria on the road. The defending champions are still in pole position in the race for the scudetto. But the Neapolitan challengers are now neck-and-neck as they approach the homestretch of the campaign.

Does that mean Napoli has a shot at the title?

Given its recent run of form, Juventus now has a lot to worry about as it tries to win an unprecedented seventh consecutive Serie A title. Napoli will be favored in every match through the end of the season, while Juventus cannot say the same.

Next: Best soccer rivalries of all time

Maurizio Sarri’s club might be a point behind Juventus at the moment, but Napoli is closing in fast. They have the advantage of an easier schedule overall. And, while playing for a trophy is always desirable, Napoli might have the advantage in not having to face Milan for the Coppa Italia.

Juventus must get three points against Inter next weekend. Otherwise, Napoli looks poised to step up and overtake the defending champions in the Serie A race. Thanks to the big result in Torino, we could see a new Serie A champion this season after more than a half-decade of dominance by the bianconeri.