Andrea Betania scored a superb goal to lead Napoli to a 1-0 win over Sampdoria, keeping coach Luciano Spalletti’s side alive in the Serie A title race and ending a three-game losing streak at home.
The Italian striker scored the goal with a powerful shot in the upper corner after 43 minutes from the start, to produce the offensive pressure for a goal.
The victory comes at an important time, after Napoli settled for one victory in the last six league matches, and lost the last three matches at home.
Napoli is third with 43 points, five points behind leaders Milan, while Sampdoria is 15th with 20 minutes.
Napoli’s Guan Jesus scored a goal that was canceled due to offside after the intervention of the video assistant referee, and Sampdoria goalkeeper Emile Audero starred in saving an attempt by Amir Rahmani and then a free kick from Faouzi Ghoulam before Betanya’s goal.
Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne, who reached an agreement on Friday to move to Toronto in the MLS at the end of the season, was injured after half an hour after he appeared to have a muscle problem.
In another match, Luis Morell scored two goals to win Atlanta 6-2 over Udinese, who missed 12 players due to Covid-19. Atlanta comes fourth, two points behind Napoli.
Giacomo Raspadori and substitute Gianluca Scamaca scored two goals for Sassuolo to win 5-1 against Empoli and are equal in points with their opponents, but they are ahead and occupy the ninth place in a direct confrontation.