Juventus aggravated its bad start to the season with a 2-1 defeat at the Naples field, this Saturday in the 3rd round of Serie A, where the ‘bianconero’ team barely added a point and still have not won.
The digestion of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Manchester United at the end of last month is still being very heavy for the Turin team, which is struggling to find the offensive formula.
Spain’s Álvaro Morata opened the scoring at the Diego Maradona stadium in the 10th minute after stealing the ball from local defender Kostas Manolas.
But Napoli, who largely dominated ball possession, were able to turn the game around.
Luciano Spalletti’s team equalized after the break through Matteo Politano (57), who took advantage of a rebound from goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny after a shot from Lorenzo Insigne.
Down the stretch, an error by Moise Kean in a defensive action put Napoli’s second goal on a tray, which was signed by Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly (85).
With three victories in three games, Napoli provisionally leads the standings with their 9 points and already takes an eight-point lead over their rival this afternoon, which is being the great disappointment at the start of the new season in the ‘Calcio’ and which is sixteenth for now.
Juventus started Serie A 2021-2022 with a draw at Udinese (2-2), when it still had Cristiano Ronaldo. Days days the exit of the club of the Portuguese star was announced and since then he has lost the two games played, 1-0 at home against Empoli and now on this visit to Naples.
In Bergamo, Atalanta (10th, 4 points) also disappointed, in their case losing 2 to 1 against Fiorentina, which thanks to their victory rose to sixth place, with 6 points.
Serbian Dusan Vlahovic put Fiorentina ahead by scoring two penalties (minute 33 and 49). Also from the fatal point, Atalanta scored his goal, through Colombian Duván Zapata (65), but the locals could not avoid registering their first defeat.
In Saturday’s opener, the newly promoted Venice (12th) scored his first win after starting with two losses. It was on his visit to Empoli (11th), with which he now equals 3 points.
Frenchman Thomas Henry (13th minute) and Nigerian David Okereke (68) put the Venetians ahead on the scoreboard and their Tuscan rival was barely able to shorten the disadvantage already in 89th, with a penalty converted by Swiss Nedim Bajrami.
On Sunday the third Italian day will continue with six games.
Four of the teams that started the season with two wins will play there, trying to follow Naples’ example: Lazio, Roma, Inter Milan and AC Milan.
Two of them face each other, as Milan host Lazio at San Siro. For their part, Inter visit Sampdoria and Roma will host Sassuolo at the Olímpico.
Roma’s new coach, Portuguese José Mourinho, is preparing to experience his 1,000th official match as coach.
– Results of the 3rd round of the Italian Serie A:
– Saturday:
Empoli – Venice 1 – 2
Naples – Juventus 2 – 1
Atalanta – Fiorentina 1 – 2
– Sunday:
(10h30 GMT) Sampdoria – Inter
(13h00 GMT) Spezia – Udinese
Torino – Salernitana
Cagliari – Genoa
(16h00 GMT) Milan – Lazio
(18h45 GMT) Rome – Sassuolo
– Monday:
(18h45 GMT) Bologna – Hellas Verona
Classification: Pts JGEP GF GC Dif
1. Naples 9 3 3 0 0 6 2 4
2. Lazio 6 2 2 0 0 9 2 7
3. Rome 6 2 2 0 0 7 1 6
. Inter 6 2 2 0 0 7 1 6
5. Milan 6 2 2 0 0 5 1 4
6. Fiorentina 6 3 2 0 1 5 5 0
7. Udinese 4 2 1 1 0 5 2 3
8. Bologna 4 2 1 1 0 3 2 1
. Sassuolo 4 2 1 1 0 3 2 1
10. Atalanta 4 3 1 1 1 3 3 0
11. Empoli 3 3 1 0 2 3 5 -2
12. Venice 3 3 1 0 2 2 6 -4
13. Sampdoria 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1
14. Cagliari 1 2 0 1 1 3 6 -3
15. Spezia 1 2 0 1 1 3 8 -5
16. Juventus 1 3 0 1 2 3 5 -2
17. Torino 0 2 0 0 2 2 4 -2
18. Hellas Verona 0 2 0 0 2 3 6 -3
19. Salernitana 0 2 0 0 2 2 7 -5
20. Genoa 0 2 0 0 2 1 6 -5
bur-alu / dr / psr