🇮🇹 Andrea Pirlo granted welcome reprieve as Juventus beat Napoli | OneFootball

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Dan Burke·7 April 2021

🇮🇹 Andrea Pirlo granted welcome reprieve as Juventus beat Napoli

Article image:🇮🇹 Andrea Pirlo granted welcome reprieve as Juventus beat Napoli

Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo can breathe a sigh of relief after his side overcame Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli in Serie A on Wednesday.

Scorers: Ronaldo 13′, Dybala 73′; Insigne 90′


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Juve took the lead early in the first half, when Federico Chiesa spun away from two Napoli defenders before squaring to Cristiano Ronaldo to slot low past the goalkeeper.

Juan Cuadrado had a chance to increase the hosts’ advantage just before half-time, before Lorenzo Insigne fired over the bar at the other end.

In the second half, Gianluigi Buffon was forced into two decent stops in the Bianconeri goal, first to deny Giovanni Di Lorenzo and then Fabián Ruiz.

But with 17 minutes of normal time remaining, Juve did go 2-0 up when Paulo Dybala curved a superb strike around Kalidou Kouilbaly and past Alex Meret in the Napoli goal.

There was some late drama, however, as Insigne pulled a goal back for the visitors from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Giorgio Chiellini had brought down Victor Osimhen, but Juve ultimately hung on for the three points.

This result moves the reigning champions up to third in Serie A and 12 points behind leaders Inter, while Napoli remain fifth.