Dejan Kulusevski broke Parma's grim suite in eight straight games without a win when he put up a decisive 2-1 at home against Europa League-chasing Napoli at home.

The 20-year-old Swede started on the bench, but was substituted at the position 1-1 in the second half.

With only three minutes left of regular match time, he advanced with the ball into the penalty area and was made down by midfielder Kalidou Koulibaly. Kulusevski himself stepped up to the penalty spot, feigned goalkeeper Alex Meret in one direction and put the ball in the other.

The goal meant three points for Parma and that the team also gave a helping hand to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Milan who, thanks to tonight's results, are still in fifth place.

Ekdal replaced in derby

Kulusevski also became a leading figure in this autumn's meeting with Napoli with a goal and an assist, and now coach Gennaro Gattuso must start dreaming nightmares about the Swedish super talent who will try to take a place in Juventus next season.

With three games left of the season, Parma is in tenth place in Serie A.

However, not everything was peace and joy from a Swedish point of view in Italy this evening. National team player Albin Ekdal was forced to retire after half an hour of play in the derby between his Sampdoria and Genoa, this after having stepped wrong in the first half.