Refreshed and Rewritten:
Serie A leaders Napoli extended their advantage over the chasing pack with a hard-fought victory at tense Lecce.
Antonio Conte's Napoli One Win Away from Potential League Title
Antonio Conte's Napoli side inched closer to securing a second league trophy in three seasons, as Giacomo Raspadori's well-struck free-kick handed them a crucial 1-0 victory over Lecce. With Inter Milan set to square off against Verona later, Napoli could extend their lead atop the Serie A table, boasting a four-point cushion with three games left to play.
However, Inter Milan have made significant changes to their starting lineup since their midweek draw against Barcelona, as they wrap up their Champions League semi-final preparations. The second leg takes place on Tuesday.
Napoli have been in top-tier form, notching their fourth consecutive win while keeping a clean sheet, leaving them in prime position to claim their fourth league title. Their remaining fixtures against Genoa, Parma, and Cagliari, all struggling in the lower half of the table, present an opportunity to seal the deal.
Conte was appreciative of the win but urged caution, expressing relief about his team's performance against a tough Lecce side and in a hostile atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Lecce languish one spot above the relegation zone, with Empoli's victory over Lazio on Sunday threatening to push them into the drop zone. The contest was nearly postponed after fans bombarded the pitch with flares and firecrackers, forcing a seven-minute halt in play.
The disruption came as fans voiced their anger over Serie A authorities only postponing Lecce's fixture against Atalanta by one day following the sudden death of long-time team physio Graziano Fiorita, 47. Fans bitterly booed and whistled the league's anthem while pointedly labeling the league's representatives as "sons of bitches."
Despite the early setback, Napoli maintained a commanding presence, taking a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute thanks to Raspadori's stunning free-kick. The home team had a glaring chance to equalize in the second minute when Romelu Lukaku was adjudged to be offside by a mere millimeter, denying the mercurial striker a goal.
The first half featured a flurry of activity, with Kialonda Gaspar coming close to equalizing for Lecce by hitting the crossbar in the 38th minute, while Raspadori almost doubling Napoli's lead before the break. In the second half, a scrappy but defensive Napoli held on to secure a vital win.
Elsewhere, Como celebrated their fifth consecutive Serie A victory, their first in the club's history, moving up to tenth place. Parma's safety in the league appears all but assured, boasting a six-point buffer against the relegation zone, with Cagliari one point ahead in 14th despite a 2-1 home loss to Udinese.
© 2025 AFP
Antonio Conte's Napoli, currently leading Serie A, are one step away from potentially clinching the league title. Meanwhile, Inter Milan, who lost to Napoli but are preparing for their Champions League semi-final, are still in position to challenge them in the European football scene.
