Napoli inch closer to historic Scudetto with battling victory over Lecce
When Luciano Spalletti’s side finally seal a third Serie A title, Lecce boss and former Azzurri player Marco Baroni will lose his status as the last Napoli man to score a Scudetto-winning goal, after famously doing so back in 1990.
A shock win for his men tonight would have delayed that poignant moment - but Lecce’s resistance lasted just shy of 18 minutes, with the visitors taking an 18th-minute lead via a Giovanni Di Lorenzo header, after he was left unmarked inside the Lecce penalty area to nod home Kim Min-Jae’s pin-point cross.
After a first half where Napoli looked to have shaken off the trauma of Sunday night’s 4-0 hammering against AC Milan, Luciano Spalletti’s frustrations would once again rear their head after the interval, when Lecce struck a shock equaliser six minutes into the second half.
Federico Di Francesco, who hadn’t previously scored for Lecce since the opening game of the season, took advantage of a bouncing ball inside the penalty area, before rifling beyond an outstretched Alex Meret to restore parity in Apulia.
Though Napoli looked a shadow of the side that waltzed their way to a double-figure lead at the top of the Serie A title earlier in the campaign, they would regain the lead in fortunate fashion.
In the wrong place at the wrong time, Antonino Gallo could do little as he watched the ball strike his midriff from six yards out, before looping over the head of Wladimiro Falcone.
The Lecce shot-stopper’s best endeavours to keep the ball out proved futile, as jubilant white-shirted champions in waiting charged towards the away end in equal celebration and relief.
It may not have been the prettiest of victories for the champions-elect, but it’s a three points Spalletti and Co. will look back fondly on at the end of a title-winning campaign.
Still a matter of 'when, not if' for Napoli, their attention will turn towards an all-Italian affair in midweek, where a trip to San Siro to face AC Milan - and one they will make thirsting for revenge - awaits the side looking to be the next generation's one true Italian powerhouse.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kim Min-Jae (Napoli)
Check out all the stats and the match's player ratings with Flashscore.