Napoli - Juventus: summary, score, goals, highlights, Serie A 2022/23
Napoli v Juventus: as it heppened
Napoli masterclass!
Many thanks for joining us tonight for this thrilling Serie A contest.
Napoli fans will remember this game for a long time as they put five past an in-form Juventus who had only shipped seven goals all season.
Two goals from Osimhen with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Rrahmani and Elmas getting in on the scoring as Luciano Spalletti's side go ten points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
Where does this leave Juve?
Allegri will now need to put tonight's game behind him as they now focus on their next Serie A test, a tough home game against Atalanta.
What a performance that was. Apart from a brief spell at the end of the first half when Juve were on top, it was a dominant performance from Luciano Spalletti's side.
Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia form a lethal pair and it's imperative that they remain injury-free.
Mario Rui looked excellent, especially in the first half and Anguissa was a rock in the centre of the park for Napoli.
FT: Napoli 5-1 Juve
Great scenes at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium as Napoli's players celebrate this momentous win over Juventus ... a scoreline that not even the most hardcore Napoli fan could have dreamed of.
FT at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium with an incredible performance from the home side.
The phones are out at the stadium and the spectacle looks amazing as the home fans know they are witnessing a historic win over the hated rivals from the north of the country.
Last minute of the 90.
This has been a majestic performance from the home side as the 'Ole's ring out now with three minutes of time to be added on.
Lozano on for Kvaratskhelia.
Another standing ovation for the Georgian.
Napoli now open up a ten point gap at the top of the table and we've still yet to hit the half way mark in the Serie A season.
Five minutes remain in Naples as the fizz has died down after the fifth goal.
Napoli and Spalletti's challenge now is to remain calm and keep a level head as they've been in this position two or three times in recent years.
Soule replaces Rabiot.... not a vintage performance from the French central player tonight,.
I wonder if there are any Eintracht Frankfurt supporters tuning in to the action from Naples tonight?
A terrifying prospect for any potential visitors to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The German side face Spalletti's side in the Round of 16 in the UCL.
Raspodori comes on for Osimhen .....
Zielinski also off with Ndombole his replacement.
A standing ovation for two goal hero Victor Osimhen.
More Juve substitutions
What a night for the city of Naples. Basically a one club city where you support SSC Napoli or SSC Napoli.
This result will send a major message to the Inters, Milans, Atalantas and any other would be scudetto contenders,
Juve reeling...
Fortunate for the Napoli sub as the ball did get a wicked deflection to find the back of the net.
Eight clean sheets for Juve and the side who had only shipped 7 goals ahead of tonight's trip to Naples, hace let in five in one game.
Elmas makes it 5 (five).
Napoli are running riot !
Less than 20' here at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium as Napoli push for a fifth.
What a message Spalletti's men are sending to the rest of Serie A as they dismantle the biggest name (historically) in Italian football.
Mario Rui makes way for Olivera for Napoli
Kvaratskhelia with a fine strike but Wojciech Szczęsny gets down well to save.
Napoli on fire !!!!
What a goal from the Nigerian striker and all thanks to pressure from Rui when the ball seemed dead.
Kvaratskhelia finds Osimhen and the Super Eagle nods past Wojciech Szczęsny.
Four for Napoli !!!!
The next goal will really condition the dynamic of this massive Serie A clash.
Napoli do look the more likely on the current balance of play with that third Napoli goal seeming to send the men from Turin reeling.
Less than 30' for Napoli to see this through. The look so good going forward but there are slivers of vulnerability in Spalletti's men.
Kean on for Milil and Paredes on for the injured Locatelli.
Allegri looking to stem the flow...
What a chance for Osimhen to see off Juve as the striker is one on one with the Juve keeper but the Nigerian forward scoops the ball over the bar.
Napoli restore 2 goal lead
Nothing Wojciech Szczęsny could do about that.
Gooooooool. What a striker as Amir Rrahmani drills home from the edge of the box with an unstoppable drive.
Osimhen breaks and from an acute angle forces Wojciech Szczęsny to save well and send the ball behind for a corner.
Paredes set to come on for the injured Locatelli.
Not for the first time tonight, Napoli are sloppy and give the ball away. This time Rui was to blame after a series of blunders from Rrahmnani in the first half.
Plenty of Georgia flags on display at the Napoli stadium tonight as the local 'tifosi' show their support for Kvaratskhelia.
We're back underway and Locatelli seems okay to carry on.
Locatelli needs attention after he collides with Osimhen.
The Juve man seems to be in some distress after the fortuitous collision with the Nigerian striker.
Off we go... a big 45' coming up
Elmas seems poised to start the second half for Napoli.
Politano the man making way for the North Macedonia international.
Half time in Naples and what a 45 minutes of action as Napoli hold the lead.
Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia putting the home side ahead and a late strike from Di Maria means Juve are very much involved in this contest.
Juve almost draw level at the stroke of half time as Meret has to save well as Rrahmani almost deflects into his own net.
Final minute of a whirlwind of a half. Napoli the better side but Juve still very much at the races.
Danilo carded for a rash challenge on Kvaratskhelia.
Fine finish from the Argentine as Milik lays off nicely and the World Cup winner slots home with the trusty left peg.
Di Maria pulls one back for Juve
Seventh goal of the season for the Georgian.
Napoli go two ahead as Kvaratskhelia slots home after decent work from Osimhen.
Kvaratskhelia excites every time he gets the ball as Napoli do look a little tired after a massively industrious first 20-25 minutes.
Ten of the half remaining.
Juve win their first corner of the night and Bremer almost gets a head on the ball as Napoli have lost their way somewhat.
The visitors now enjoying the bulk of the play as Napoli forced to hit on the counter.
Osimhen's opener is also the first time that Juve have shipped a goal in 9 games !
Juve slowly but surely creeping back into the contest.
Milik gets a header on target but the effort is straight at Meret in the Napoli goal.
A bright 27 minutes or so of action played in a wonderful atmosphere.
Di Maria strikes the bar but what an error from Rrahmani as he gives the ball straight to the Argentine, A let-off for Napoli.
Napoli's press and energy levels are incredible as they refuse to give Juve any time on the ball.
Total domination from Napoli as the home side boss possession
Napoli 1-0 Juve
No let up as Napoli maintain the pressure.
What a start for the home side as the Nigerian striker nods home after Szczęsny palms the ball back into open play after a Kvaratskhelia shot.
Predatory stuff and Napoli take a deserved lead.
Napoli go ahead
First chance of the night falls to Osimhen but the Super Eagle is just unable to latch onto the ball.
Total dominantion from the home side now.
First corner of the night goes to the home side and it's Kvaratskhelia to take.
Napoli plead for handball as Bremer seemed to handle... Referee waves play on.
Mario Rui looks sharp tonight with the Portuguese player's distribution already causing problems for Juve.
Napoli are just starting to take charge one senses.
Di Maria is in need of medical assistance as he seemed to get clipped by Napoli's Kim in what was a fair and clean challenge from the South Korean defender.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gets on the ball and immediately has the fans alert with his great turn of pace. The Georgian has been so exciting all season.
Napoli now enjoying the bulk of possession.
Tremendous noise levels with a full house tonight for a game that really could condition so much of the season for Napoli.
Off we go in Naples as Mr. Daniele Doveri gets the action underway.
Can Napoli go 10 points clear with a win?
The teams are in the tunnel.
Napoli in their classic sky blue shirts, white shorts and sky socks.
Juve too in their iconic black and white stripes and black shorts tonight.
'Go West' (Pet Shop Boys version) blares out from the stadium PA as they players take to the pitch.
A full house at the Maradona Stadium tonight.
Good news for Juve as Pogba returns to training
Paul Pogba is getting closer and closer to returning to Juventus after the French central player returned to complete training with the rest of his team-mates.
The former Man United man was ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining a serious muscular problem in July 2022.
Napoli-Juve: recent meetings
Napoli will look to maintain the dynamic against the 'Old Lady' having won three of the most recent meetings between both sides in Campania. Last season Napoli ran out 2-1 winners having secured a slender 1-0 win in the 2020-21 season.
Maradona - Life is life
Should anyone be wondering why a dodgy Europop tune Graz based Opus mean so much to Napoli fans...
Enjoy this footage of Diego Maradona warming up for a Uefa Cup game for Napoli in Munich with the now legendary video,
Napoli warm-up time
That iconic 80's ..ahem 'classic' by Opus...
Napoli getting\ ready with kick-off less than 30 minutes away,
Napoli XI confirmed
Spalletti has named his side to face Juve at the Diego Armando Maradona with all eyes on striking duo of Nigerian Osimhen and Georgian Kvaratskhelia with the Tiblisi born player one of the Serie A revelations this season.
Juve XI confirmed
This is Massimiliano Allegri's starting XI for the highly awaited clash against Napoli.
With no Vlahovic and Pogba for Juve, Cheisa and Milik will look to get among the goals hoping for support from McKennie and Di Maria.
Best attack vs best defence
Tonight's table topper pits Spalletti’s offensive unit – Serie A’s top scorers with 39 goals in their 17 games — against the Allegri's solid defence, the league’s best defensive team with just seven goals conceded.
Serie A 'winter champions'
Napoli will be Serie A winter champions with two games to play in the first half of fixtures in this 2022-23 season as they hold a seven point lead over second placed Juventus.
In the past 14 seasons, the team which has been in front at the halfway point has finished gone on to be crowned Serie A champions on 10 occasions.
'Diego Armando Maradona' / CIRO FUSCO / EFE
Serie A - Napoli vs Juventus
Supporters arrive at the stadium 'Diego Armando Maradona' prior to the Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs Juventus FC in Naples.
Kick-off less than an hour away.
European football on the horizon for both sides
Napoli are one of the most exciting sides in Europe at present and toopped Group A in the 2022-23 Champions League and will face Eintracht Frankfurt on the Round of 16 with the Serie A leaders tipped to advance.
Juve struggled badly at the start of the season and their poor form domestically also translated to Europe where they won just three points in the entire campaign and pipped Maccabi Haifa to a Europa League place by virtue of goal difference.
The Turin side will now face Nantes in the UEL knockout round in February.
Massimiliano Allegri / Alessandro Di Marco / EFE
Allegri pre-game
Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri was in confident mood speaking to the press ahead of Friday's clash and impressed on the need to maintain improvement.
“We've had three days to prepare for this match and they're (players) in good condition. We'll see how we get on tomorrow. We've obtained some good results so far but we must carry on improving. We must finish in the top four."
Spalletti
Spalletti pre-game
Speaking to the media ahead of the Napoli-Juve clash, the 63-year-old coach insisted that it was essential that his side maintained discipline.
“We're going to have to move the ball about quickly and it's essential that we maintain our shape.
We'll go into the match without listening to any of the outside talk and we'll try to put into practise the things we work on week in week out. How you play in the match should follow on logically from how you prepare for it on the training ground tactically and mentally."
Juve looking to extend solid run
Juve are on a winning run of 8 games with the last defeat coming at San Siro against Milan in early October. Not only have Allegri's side recorded eight successive wins, they have also to ship a goal in these past eight meetings.... impressive !
Napoli-Juve match officials
Daniele Doveri has been appointed as the referee of tonight's Serie A Week 18 showdown with Juventus at the Stadio Maradona.
He will be assisted by Costanzo and Passeri with Chiffi as fourth official with the VAR booth to be manned by Mariani and Piccinini.
Napoli with eye on first Scudetto since 1989-90 season
Could this be the year that Napoli finally deliver? We've seen how the Southern based side have gone close to sealing the title in the past but late wobbles have been their underdoing. Is this the year where the Serie A title heads south again?
Napoli-Juve (possible XI's)
Napoli possible starting lineup:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim Min-jae, Rrahmani, Olivera; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Danilo, Rugani, Gatti; McKennie, Rabiot, Locatelli, Miretti, Kostic; Di Maria, Milik
Serie A table after 17 games
This is how the top of the Serie A table looks going into week 18 fixtures.
Napoli hold a seven point lead but Juventus are on a roll with the Turin based side having won their past eight Serie A matches.
The home side tasted defeat for the first time upon the resumption of the championship falling to Inter Milan at San Siro.
The action at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium gets underway at 20:45 local time/ 14:45 ET / 11:45 PT.
Hello and welcome to the Friday night Serie A game as first placed Napoli face Juventus with the outcome destined to possibly shape the outcome of the 2022-23 Serie A title.