Napoli have a talent to turn an easy task into a trouble - but they secure the points from the shortest trip of the year

Wherever Napoli travel for Serie A games, it's a long trip. Most top-tier clubs are located in nothern Italy, making life for Napoli fans and players difficult. But the trip to Salerno is an exception - it's only a 45-minute drive! Of course, the atmosphere was cracking as the Scudetto holders beat the bottom-placed team. However, Rudi Garcia's team struggled to put daylight between themselves and the hosts.

They boys from Stadio Diego Armando Maradona took the lead early on through Giacomo Raspadori, who had the difficult task of replacing the absent Victor Osimhen. Midfielder Stanislav Lobotka provided an assist to Raspadori, who was positioned to his right in the penalty area. The Napoli forward finished with class to hand the Neapolitans the lead.

It looked like Salernitana are in for a heavy beating, but thee game played out differently. The team managed by former Italy striker Filippo Inzaghi defended bravely and entered the final stages of the game being only a goal behind.

But North Macedonia international Elif Elmas put the match beyond doubt with ten minutes remaining as he cut in from the left and curled in a lovely finish into the far corner of the legendary Mexican goalie Guillermo Ochoa. Not even such a magical shot-stopper could save everything.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 11

Friday

Bologna - Lazio 1-0 (0-0)

/Ferguson 46/

Saturday

Salernitana - Napoli x-x (0-1)

/Raspadori 13, Elmas 82/

20:00: (3.35) Atalanta (3.50) Inter (2.25)

22:45: (1.45) Milan (4.40) Udinese (7.50)

Sunday

14:30: (3.20) Verona (3.40) Monza (2.40)

17:00: (2.80) Cagliari (3.05) Genoa (2.70)

20:00: (1.55) Roma (3.90) Lecce (6.75)

22:45: (2.95) Fiorentina (3.40) Juventus (2.55)

Monday

20:30: (2.20) Frosinone (3.50) Empoli (3.50)

22:45: (2.20) Torino (3.50) Sassuolo (3.50)

***odds are subject to change***