Napoli run riot over Juventus in huge 5-1 win

Football

Published: 14 Jan. 2023, 09:40

Napoli run riot over Juventus in huge 5-1 win

Juventus' midfielder Moise Kean, left, and Napoli defender Kim Min-jae in action during a Serie A match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on Friday. [EPA/YONHAP]

It was billed as the ultimate test of Napoli's potential after the long World Cup break, the Serie A leaders with just one loss so far this season taking on second-place Juventus riding an eight-game winning streak without conceding a single goal.

Instead, it was a massacre.

Napoli systematically tore Juventus apart at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on Friday, winning 5-1 in a tour de force that saw the Turin club concede five goals in a single competitive game for the first time since 1993.

Napoli dominated for the entire 90 minutes, with Victor Osimhen scoring the opening in the 14th minute and Elif Elmas wrapping things up in the 72nd.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added one in the 39th, bellying concerns about the Georgian's form, with Osimhen getting a brace with another in the 65th minute. Even the defense got in on the action, with center-back Amir Rrahmani scoring in the 55th minute.

Napoli celebrate after beating Juventus 5-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on Friday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Angel di Maria provided the sole consolation goal, but it made little difference. With the loss, Juventus slip to third in Serie A.

Korean center-back Kim Min-jae was at the heart of the action, playing the full 90 minutes at the center of the action and earning a solid eight in player ratings from 90min.com, a rating beaten only by Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia on nine each.

With the win, there is little doubt that Napoli have recovered from their one loss against Inter Milan last week.

The Partenopei now sit 10 points clear at the top of Serie A on 47 points, only the third team ever to hit 47 after 18 games. Every team that has ever got that far — Juventus on four occasions and Inter once — has gone on to win Serie A, suggesting Napoli are now narrowing in on their first championship title since Diego Maradona lead the squad 30 years ago.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]