Napoli keep Serie A lead with win at Empoli

Gli Azzurri register their fourth win this season, Juventus beat 10-man Lazi

MILAN:

Napoli will stay top of Serie A for at least another week after winning 1-0 at bogey team Empoli on Sunday and moving three points clear of Juventus. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck the only goal of the game, and his fourth of the season, from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute to give Napoli their fourth straight win in all competitions.

Sunday's hard-fought victory means that Napoli cannot be overtaken this weekend, although Inter Milan can move back to within two points of Antonio Conte's team with a win at troubled Roma in the day's late game.

"We're trying to create a solid base from which we can become a team with serious ambitions," said Conte to DAZN.

"Every win should be celebrated because they're hard won. We just need to keep doing what we're doing.

"We're trying to build something here, something that isn't just a flash in the pan but lasts long-term."

Empoli beat Napoli home and away last season and their victory in Naples last November cost Rudi Garcia his job as coach, as a disastrous league title defence ended with southern Italy's biggest club in 10th.

And the hosts were the better team for large portions of the match, with Kvaratskhelia's winning spot-kick Napoli's only shot on target in front of thousands of enthusiastic travelling supporters.

"I don't know if it's our history here but I wasn't happy with how we played in the first half. If they had scored we couldn't have said anything," said Conte.

Napoli don't have European football as a result of their collapse following a first Scudetto since 1990 and the days of Diego Maradona.

And under Conte they have quickly re-established themselves as title challengers, with the advantage of not having the expanded Champions League jamming up their schedule.

Kvaratskhelia is key to Conte's plans but the Georgia winger is yet to sign a contract extension, with his current deal expiring in 2027.

Italian media report that Kvaratskhelia is aiming for eight million euros ($8.7 million) a season, significantly more than Napoli are willing to offer the breakout star of their historic 2023 title triumph.

Juventus moved level on points with Serie A leaders Napoli on Saturday after squeezing past 10-man Lazio 1-0, while AC Milan overcame having to play for over an hour with 10 men to beat Udinese by the same score.

Mario Gila's own goal with five minutes remaining gave Juve the win in Turin, a crushing blow for Lazio who acquitted themselves well after Alessio Romagnoli was sent off in the 24th minute.

Thiago Motta's Juve looked set to dominate when Romagnoli was shown a straight red card for taking out Pierre Kalulu as he raced towards goal.

But Lazio had little trouble holding off Juve's uninspired attacking, who had to rely on Gila poking Juan Cabal's low cross into his own goal in order to take the three points.

"It was a difficult match against a good team," said Motta.

"It's our first win at home (in the league) since August and it was deserved."

Lazio, in fifth, were angered by Douglas Luiz not being sent off for punching Patric, an offence which was apparently not seen by the VAR officials.

"It is violent conduct and should have been a red card. I do not understand why it was not sanctioned. We feel that we are being taken for a ride," said sporting director Angelo Mariano Fabiani.

Juve have a better goal difference than Napoli but stay behind their rivals, coached by Antonio Conte, as they have played a game more.

Napoli can ensure they stay top with a win at Empoli in Sunday's lunchtime match, while champions Inter Milan, who sit two points off the pace alongside their local rivals Milan, are at Roma.

Samuel Chukwueze's 13th-minute strike looked like being the first of a comfortable win for Milan but ended up being the winning goal as the seven-time European champions held on for the points.

Their task was made difficult by Tijjani Reijnders being sent off in the 29th minute for a clumsy foul on Sandi Lovric, who would have been clean through on goal had the Netherlands midfielder not clipped his heels.