Rome: Napoli could finish the weekend trailing Serie A leaders Juventus by 11 points after Carlo Ancelotti’s wasteful side stuttered to a 0-0 draw at Fiorentina, as Lautaro Martinez scored the only goal to get Inter Milan back winning against promoted Parma in Serie A matches played Saturday.
Both sides start their Europa League campaigns this week after crashing out of the Champions League with Napoli travelling to FC Zurich and Inter Milan away to Rapid Vienna in their round of the 32, first leg ties.
Fiorentina goalkeeper Alban Lafont produced a string of saves to deny Piotr Zielinski and Dries Mertens as Napoli failed to score away from home for the third game running.
“We dropped two points that we would’ve deserved for attacking from start to finish,” said Ancelotti. “In some ways, it was an impeccable performance, but we weren’t clinical enough in front of goal and were forced to make do with a point.”
Inter Milan, in third position in the Serie A table, got back to winning ways after Martinez came off the bench late, scoring after 79 minutes at Parma, after an earlier Danilo D’Ambrosio headed goal was ruled out after a VAR video review for a handling offence.
Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan crossed nicely for the Argentine Martinez to score and ensure all three points for Luciano Spalletti’s side. It was his first goal of the season.
Inter are now nine points behind Napoli, with Roma in fourth, a further five points behind, and Lazio fifth after their wins over Chievo and Empoli earlier this week.
Unbeaten Juventus could stretch their advantage to double digits Sunday when they travel to mid-table Sassuolo, firmly on track for an eighth consecutive league title.
AFP