Serie A | Napoli 2-0 Monza: Conte’s team take top spot

Napoli are the new Serie A leaders after Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made short work of Alessandro Nesta’s Monza.

The Partenopei lost goalkeeper Alex Meret for a month to a muscular issue, but Scott McTominay was brimming with confidence after his first goal in a 5-0 midweek Coppa Italia win over Palermo. Monza had just three Serie A stalemates from five rounds and a growing injury list, missing Alessio Cragno, Patrick Ciurria, Roberto Gagliardini and Samuele Vignato.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Elia Caprile had to fingertip a Pedro Pereira cross away from Milan Djuric in the opening minutes, but the hosts then took control with long periods of possession and pressure.

The breakthrough came when Matteo Politano tried to complete a give and go with Romelu Lukaku down the right, Alessandro Bianco intercepted, but it turned into an accidental assist as the winger fired in from a tight angle with his left foot. It was the Italian’s first goal since April.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo had Napoli penalty appeals waved away as Bianco grazed his foot on the outside line of the area.

Napoli doubled their lead thanks to a ferocious high press that caught Monza out. Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa intercepted and Stanislav Lobotka threaded through for McTominay, Andrea Carboni made a desperate sliding block, but the ball only went as far as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to score from 10 yards.

After the restart, McTominay’s glancing header shaved a coat of paint off the far post from the Politano corner.

Monza tried to fight back, Caprile gathering a Milan Djuric header and seeing the Daniel Maldini free kick whistle wide of the upright.

Pedro Pereira made a decisive interception on McTominay in the box, while Giacomo Raspadori hit the side-netting from a tricky angle and David Neres whipped a left-foot curler just wide.

Napoli 2-0 Monza

Politano 22 (N), Kvaratskhelia 33 (N)

Post navigation

Spalletti welcomed back by Napoli fans and plans charity gift