South beats North at Stadio Diego Maradona

The battle for European competitions in Italy is set to be as exciting as the title race. Napoli currently hold sixth place, the last that guarantees European football next term. Their win against Bologna increased the lead ahead of seventh-placed Lazio to four points. An entertaining match at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona brought us attacking football on both sides of the pitch, plenty of chances and four goals in the clash of southerners Napoli and Bologna from the north of the country.

Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne opened the scoring early on with a lovely placed shot from the edge of the box, but Bologna were looking dangerous and came close to levelling on a few occasions through Argentinean forward Rodrigo Palacio and notably through Andreas Skov Olsen who hit the post.

Insigne was in the mood for football tonight and only a fine stop by Lukasz Skorupski denied the Italian international a second goal, but Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen wouldn’t be denied on 66 minutes then he blasted a shot that squirmed through the hands of the Polish goalkeeper.

Rossoneri win to keep pressure on Inter

The Neapolitans have enough attacking talent to compete against any team in Italy, but have been letting some sloppy goals in. A defensive error allowed the visitors to get back into the game. Diego Demme gave the ball away and was punished by a Roberto Soriano strike. Bologna were given a lifeline but they managed to throw it away with yet another defensive blunder. Lorenzo De Silvestri didn’t learn from Demme’s mistake and he allowed Insigne to dispossess him and fire a low, precise drive beyond the frustrated Skorupski and thus restore a two-goal lead for the light blues.

This defeat leaves Sinisa Mihajlovic’s team in 12th spoot in the league, eight points above the drop zone. They will need to string some good results to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap by the end of the campaign. On tonight’s evidence, they will have enough to stay safe – provided that they cut down on silly mistakes.

SERIE A - ROUND 26

Saturday

Spezia - Benevento 1-1 (0-1)

/Verde 71 - Gaich 24/

Udinese - Sassuolo 2-0 (1-0)

/Llorente 42, Pereyra 93/

Juventus - Lazio 3-1 (1-1)

/Rabiot 39, Morata 57, 60 p - Correa 14/

Sunday

Roma – Genoa 1-0 (1-0)

/Mancini 24/

Crotone – Torino 4-2 (1-1)

/Simy 27, 54, Reca 80, Ounas 90+4 – Mandragora 45, Sanabria 84/

Fiorentina – Parma 3-3 (2-1)

/Quarta 28, Milenkovic 42, Iacoponi 90+4 – Kucka 32, Kurtic 72, Mihaila 90/

Hellas Verona – Milan 0-2 (0-1)

/Krunic 27, Dalot 50/

Sampdoria - Cagliari 2-2 (0-1)

/Bereszynski 78, Gabbiadini 80 - Joao Pedro 26, Nainggolan 90+6/

Napoli - Bologna 3-1 (1-0)

/Insigne 8, 76, Osimhen 66 – Soriano 76/

Monday

22:45 Inter - Atalanta