Napoli beat rivals Roma to join Milan at Serie A summit
Napoli moved level with AC Milan at the summit of Serie A on Sunday following a 1-0 triumph over title challengers Roma, while Inter Milan stayed in contention with the frontrunners by securing a 2-0 win against Pisa.
David Neres delivered the decisive strike in a tense encounter during the 36th minute at the Stadio Olimpico, capping a swift counter-attack with a composed effort that lifted Napoli to 28 points.
Antonio Conte's Napoli trail Milan on goal difference and hold a single-point advantage over both Roma and Inter Milan in a fiercely contested race for the Scudetto.
Bologna could draw level with Roma and Inter should they overcome Cremonese on Monday evening, and Vincenzo Italiano's squad might yet influence the title outcome, which they last claimed in 1964.
Roma, seeking their first Italian crown in 24 years, suffered their third loss to a direct competitor this campaign after previous defeats to the Milan sides.
Napoli recovered strongly from a slump prior to the recent international pause, delivering a textbook road display by restricting Roma's opportunities and striking at the opportune moment.
Conte managed without Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Anguissa, and Billy Gilmour, alongside the extended absence of Romelu Lukaku, yet devised a potent forward setup featuring Neres and Noa Lang, who harried around central striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund surged ahead and neatly teed up Neres for his third strike of the term, with solid backline work preventing Roma from testing Vanja Milinkovic-Savic's net.
Roma struggled to respond, unable to penetrate Napoli's defence until the 90th minute, when Milinkovic-Savic thwarted Tommaso Baldanzi's effort from distance.
Lautaro at the double
Lautaro Martinez powered in Pio Esposito's driven delivery in the 69th minute before sealing Inter's victory with a close-range finish seven minutes from time.
A narrow midweek setback against Atletico Madrid and a derby reverse the prior weekend had left Inter unsteady, and while the Sunday success provided relief, the showing remained uninspiring.
"I'm pleased we secured the win after those two losses, as that was our aim... I focus on the team, my family, and myself, letting others handle the words," Martinez told DAZN.
"I want this to keep going, with time left on my deal, I'm content here and the supporters adore me... the squad is my priority above all."
Martinez's brace raised his tally to 10 across all tournaments and spared Inter embarrassment, as Cristian Chivu's charges appeared lethargic at the Arena Garibaldi, near Pisa's iconic leaning tower.
Pisa, languishing in the relegation zone with only one victory from 13 league outings, created superior openings before Martinez's precise first-time hit unlocked the game.
Atalanta manager Raffaele Palladino outdid his former club Fiorentina 2-0 with strikes from Odilon Kossounou and Ademola Lookman bracketing the interval.
Palladino assumed control at Atalanta earlier this month after Ivan Juric's dismissal, and the Sunday result marked just their third league success this season for the 11th-placed Bergamo outfit on 16 points.
Atalanta are showing signs of improvement post a resounding Champions League triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt, whereas struggling Fiorentina remain without a victory and six points adrift of safety.