Napoli missed the possibility to go high of Serie A on Sunday after solely managing a goalless draw at lowly Venezia as league leaders Inter Milan put together for an enormous title conflict at Atalanta. Antonio Conte’s facet are stage on 61 factors with reigning champions Inter after a largely lacklustre efficiency which with higher ending would have nonetheless been sufficient for victory on the Venetian Lagoon. Giacomo Raspadori smacked a shot off the publish within the fifth minute on the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo whereas Scott McTominay, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Romelu Lukaku have been all denied by good goalkeeping from Ionut Radu.
And substitute Giovanni Simeone wasted an opportunity to grab the three factors for Napoli in stoppage time when he blasted over Noah Okafor’s pinpoint cross from shut vary.
Those misses left Napoli with 5 attracts from their final seven league matches, type which has compromised their bid for a second league crown in three seasons.
“I do not assume they brought on us any issues. There was one workforce on the pitch that was in command of the sport, and that was us,” mentioned Conte to DAZN.
“We did what we have been imagined to do as we speak, however if you create so many possibilities it’s important to rating. And the alternatives that they had principally got here from our personal errors.”
Venezia’s efficiency belied their place within the relegation zone, 5 factors behind Parma who sit simply outdoors the underside three and drew 1-1 at Monza on Saturday.
The hosts ought to have scored three minutes earlier than the break when Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret charged off his line to disclaim Kike Perez earlier than Amir Rrahmani’s determined goalline clearance from Daniel Fila’s follow-up.
Atalanta likelihood
Napoli’s draw presents Atalanta with a fantastic alternative to attract stage with the main duo in an thrilling three-way race for the Scudetto.
Atalanta sit three factors off the tempo in third as they search a primary house win in Serie A since earlier than Christmas and their first ever league title.
Later Juventus tackle rivals Fiorentina in what will probably be a fiery ambiance in Florence as Thiago Motta’s job is reportedly within the stability after a deeply disappointing season.
Juve must win in Tuscany, the place they’ll tackle outdated boys Moise Kean and Nicolo Fagioli, with the intention to reclaim their place within the Champions League positions.
Bologna are one level above Juve in fourth place after a thumping 5-0 win over sixth-placed Lazio, one other workforce bidding for a spot in Europe’s high membership competitors.
Motta insisted on Saturday that he had the complete backing of the Juve hierarchy however Italian media have reported that Roberto Mancini is among the candidates to interchange him ought to outcomes not change.
Bologna’s fourth win on the bounce boosted their bid to return to the Champions League after flopping within the competitors this yr beneath Vincenzo Italiano, who changed Motta as coach final summer time.
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