JUVENTUS 1-0 NAPOLI (HT: 0-0)

Federico Gatti celebrates scoring the winner for Juventus over Napoli. Photograph: Daniele Badolato/Juventus FC/Getty Images

Juventus moved 12-points clear of Napoli with a 1-0 defeat of Serie A’s defending champions on Friday as striker Victor Osimhen failed to score in another barren start in a classics for his floundering team.

On the other hand, Federico Gatti’s two goals to his name in so many matches, has now accounted for six crucial points for Juventus, which has also allowed the Bianconeri to climb to the top of the table. The Juve centre-back made the job complete when he scored the sole goal in Friday’s outing at the Allianz Arena to seal Napoli’s fate.

The match started at a frenetic pace but the end-to-end forays failed to produce perfect opportunities to score for the sides in the opening i5 minutes.

Within that period, Napoli missed the best opportunity of all to go ahead, with Wojciech Szczesny stopping their goal attempt right on the line.

Juve then cut in from the flank on the left in the 18th minute. Dusan Vlahovic ignited the threat half-way, and Filip Kostic and Federico Chiesa briefly exchanged to create the effort that was eventually repelled by Juan Jesus.

The rebound fell nicely for Vlahovic aerially, who then spiraled the ball towards the apex of the six-yard box where Weston McKennie’s overhead kick collided with it. But the USA international’s acrobatic effort sailed over the bar.

In the next minute, Chiesa returned with the absolute intention of causing chaos in the visitors’ rear, but his cut-back was redirected for a corner before any of his teammates could cause further havoc.

The best opportunity of the first stanza fell for the reigning champions on the 28th minute. Osimhen brought the ball well under control on the half-way line and glided with it into space. His cross-field pass splayed in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose exchange with Szczesny saw his shot blazing into the stands.

The Polish keeper then conjured up a single hand world-class save on his 250th Serie A outing to frustrate Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who was left unmanned in front of goal after Bremer’s effort to clear bounced off Gatii. A goal from the Napoli’s captain would have counted for nothing nonetheless, as he was by-and-by flagged down for off-side.

Juve was hungrier after the half-time break. Vlahovic crashed his shot within the box into the post from McKennie’s set up. However, the midfielder was flagged for gaining possession of the ball after straying into offside position.

The Bianconeri persevered in their pressing of the champions, however, and the 51st minute proved to be their salvation.

Undaunted by his match-winning accomplishment at Monza a week earlier, Gatti swooped unexpectedly again to notch his third strike of the 2023-2024 term.

The Azzurri centre-back met a pinpoint cross from Andrea Cambiaso at the height of the six-yard box, with his well directed header leaving Alex Meret grasping at nothing.

Napoli’s riposte materialized from a Franck Anguissa header that sailed clearly off target.

Szczesny then was out of sorts, when he caused a howler inside the Allianz Stadium from an attempted clearance that careened off Stanislav Lobotka’s head.

The Napoli midfielder then located his forward, who in turn side-stepped Szczesny at the edge of the box before burying the ball into an empty net. But, Osimhen was adjudged offside.

Despite Walter Mazzarri’s rejig of his frontline from the available resources at his disposal on his bench, the Juve defence managed to hold their shape to deny the visitors from scoring in Turin for the first time in eight consecutive returns.