Assured of the title of winter champion since last weekend, the Neapolitans have remained faithful to their offensive spirit to martyrize the best defense in the championship thanks to a double from Victor Osimhen (14th, 65th) and goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ( 39th), Amir Rhahmani (55th) and Eljif Elmas (72nd).

Angel Di Maria, the best bianconero in the stadium bearing the name of the Argentine idol Diego Maradona, kept the suspense alive (42nd) but that was not enough for an overwhelmed Juve after the break.

After this new offensive demonstration reminiscent of those seen in the Champions League, in particular against Liverpool (4-1), Naples is ten points ahead of Juventus and AC Milan, traveling to Lecce on Saturday during this 18th day. .

Nothing is obviously played in the middle of the season.

But this success, and especially the manner, will fuel the confidence of Luciano Spalletti, of his players but also of an entire city crazy about football, which is chasing its third scudetto since the triumphs signed Maradona in 1987 and 1990.

stadium on fire

"It will be impossible to forget this evening!" Exulted Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis on Twitter, hailing a "fantastic team".

For Victor Osimhen, a great architect of victory with two goals and an assist, however, there is no question of already talking about scudetto: "the road is still too long, we must continue to take points".

Cautious, Juventus, as expected, started low, decided to play their luck against, with ex-Neapolitan Arkadiusz Milik at the forefront.

Faithful to a defensive attitude which allowed him to straighten his head after his failed start to the season by chaining eight victories until his trip to Naples.

Napoli's Georgian striker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (right) during the Serie A match against Juventus at the Diego-Maradona stadium on January 13, 2023 © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

But the Old Lady was betrayed this time by her defense, which gave way in the first quarter of an hour: Wojciech Szczesny repelled Kvaratskhelia's acrobatic volley but Osimhen was the quickest in a burning stadium (14th).

The atmosphere went up a notch when Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead, taking advantage of a caviar from the Nigerian (39th).

"Der" by Agnelli

Intoxicated by this perfect scenario, Naples was however surprised in the wake of a winning foray from Di Maria (42nd).

The Argentinian world champion had already distinguished himself a little earlier by finding the bar, taking advantage of a gift from Neapolitan defender Amir Rhahmani (21st).

The same Rhahmani was very close to scoring against his side just before the break, forcing his goalkeeper to a reflex stop (45 + 2nd)!

But the hopes of Juve to offer its resigning president Andrea Agnelli a last victory before he gives up his seat on Wednesday, under the pressure of a judicial inquiry into the Turin accounts, collapsed on recovery.

Rhamani made people forget their difficult first half by winning a corner (55th).

Osimhen scored his twelfth goal of the season with a header (65th).

And Elmas concluded the festival (72nd).

Polish Juventus striker Arkadiusz Milik (center) and Kosovar Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani (left) during the Serie A match between Napoli and Juventus at the Diego-Maradona stadium on January 13, 2023 © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

Juve had not conceded five league goals since a setback in 1993 against Pescara (1-5) where then played Massimiliano Allegri, the current coach of the Bianconeri, not used to this kind of slap.

"The defeat was more than deserved", admitted the coach, a handsome player, calling on his troops "to get back to work" because "the championship is still long".

This defeat can only reinforce him to make the Top 4 the real objective of his Bianconeri.

© 2023 AFP