Serie A: Napoli stretch lead at the top; Roma hold AC Milan to a thrilling draw
Napoli stretched their lead at the top of Serie A after a 2-0 win at 10-man Sampdoria.
Victor Osimhen’s first-half strike and Eljif Elmas’ penalty with eight minutes left on the clock was enough to earn Luciano Spalletti’s side all three points at a soaking-wet Marassi.
Napoli were awarded a penalty inside four minutes when Nicola Murru brought down Andre-Frank Anguissa as the midfielder looked to bring the ball down in his stride and threaten the Sampdoria goal.
Matteo Politano stepped up but Emil Audero produced a strong left hand to guide the ball onto the post as Sampdoria managed to get the rebound clear.
Despite the quick start from Napoli, the hosts grew into the game and troubled the league leaders with a handful of big chances.
Manolo Gabbiadini steered an effort wide at the near post, and Bram Nuytinck headed a cross over the bar from close range.
Sampdoria would go on to rue their chances as Napoli flew down the other end through Mario Rui, with the left-back producing a great cross for Osimhen to poke the ball over the head of Audero.
Things went from bad to worse for Sampdoria as Tomas Rincon was shown a straight red card for a foul on Osimhen, who was far too quick for the home defender as he brought the Nigerian down with a flailing leg as Osimhen beat him for pace and drove toward goal.
Despite the man advantage, Napoli struggled to break Sampdoria down in the second half but eventually claimed a second with their second penalty of the match, converted by Elmas.
A VAR replay showed Ronaldo Vieira handle the ball as Elmas tried to flick a pass to Piotr Zielinski on the edge of the box.
The win means Napoli move seven points clear of second-place Juventus at the top of Serie A, while Sampdoria drop into the bottom three.
Tammy Abraham was Roma’s hero as the England striker scored a stoppage-time equaliser to complete a remarkable late comeback and claim a 2-2 draw away to AC Milan at San Siro.
Goals from Pierre Kalulu and Tommaso Pobega in either half had the champions cruising towards victory under lashing rain, but the game was turned on its head in an astonishing finale.
Roger Ibanez powered home a header to pull one back with three minutes remaining, before Abraham reacted quickest to a Ciprian Tatarusanu parry to fire home a 93rd-minute leveller.
The sensational late rally came unexpectedly, as the visitors, shorn of suspended coach Jose Mourinho had created little of note before that point.
It was a damaging blow to Milan’s title bid, leaving them third in the standings and seven points behind leaders Napoli, while Roma remain sixth, level with fifth-placed Lazio.
There was a moving moment before kick-off as a minute’s silence was held to remember former Italy internationals Gianluca Vialli and Enrico Castano, who both passed away last week.
Sandro Tonali glanced a Rafael Leao cross wide of the far post early on as Milan quickly took charge and bossed possession.
While the Rossoneri dictated play, they struggled to carve out any big chances until Brahim Diaz found space for a shot from the edge of the area that was palmed over by Rui Patricio, and Kalulu broke away from his marker to head home from the resulting corner in the 30th minute.
Rui Patricio was tested by Theo Hernandez and Olivier Giroud in the second half, and the game seemed over as a contest when Leao slipped a pass in for substitute Pobega to finish in the 77th minute.
However, Roma’s set piece prowess got them out of trouble as Ibanez leapt to nod in a Pellegrini corner and hand them a lifeline with three minutes to go.
The visitors threw on attackers in search of a leveller, and were rewarded when Nemanja Matic’s header from a free-kick was palmed into the path of Abraham, who netted his fourth league goal of the season.
A goal from Razvan Marin four minutes into stoppage time earned Empoli a 2-2 draw at Lazio on Sunday as Maurizio Sarri’s side’s hopes of a top-four finish in Serie A suffered another blow.
Lazio, who had lost their last two league games, took the lead after 77 seconds when Felipe Anderson headed in from a set piece.
Mattia Zaccagni made it 2-0 in the 54th minute when he got free of his marker inside the area and tapped in a deflected shot from Anderson.
Empoli pulled a goal back seven minutes from time when an unmarked Francesco Caputo volleyed in and Marin equalised with a controlled shot into the top corner.
Lazio have 31 points from 17 games, 10 adrift of leaders Napoli and three behind fourth-fourth placed Inter.
