Juve held by lowly Venezia, Napoli came from behind at Udinese

Juventus are nine points behind Atalanta in sixth after following up on their Champions League win over Manchester City with an awful performance against Venezia which was met with loud disapproval from supporters despite Vlahovic's late leveller. Juve avoided a first league defeat of the season but a draw does nothing for Thiago Motta's team who look miles behind Atalanta not just in points but also in play.

"When we play teams that leave us space we can attack well but when we play against teams that leave little space we have problems like you saw tonight," said Motta. "We can't stay where we are because we have the quality to be higher at the table."

Vlahovic struck his 11th goal of the season from the spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Antonio Candela was penalised for handball, but the goal was met with a combination of cheers and jeers from frustrated fans who watched their team's 12th draw of the season.

Mikael Ellertsson and Jay Idzes cancelled out Federico Gatti's 19th-minute opener with two fine headers which put Venezia ahead seven with minutes remaining, but a draw leaves them two points from Como who sit just outside the relegation zone.

 

December 14, 2024

Napoli 'on right track'

Napoli, missing injured star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, came back from a goal down to secure the three points at the Bluenergy Stadium where they sealed a historic third league crown last year.

Trailing at the break after Florian Thauvin netted on the rebound from his own saved 22nd-minute penalty, Napoli roared back in the second half to delight their large and loud travelling support with strikes from Romelu Lukaku and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Lautaro Giannetti's own goal. Napoli are four points ahead of Lazio and third-placed Inter, who face off in Rome on Monday night, and Fiorentina with the Viola at Bologna on Saturday.

"I said after we lost to Lazio (last weekend) that we're on the right track," said Conte to DAZN. "The team needs to keep playing this kind of football, dictate the game, keep the ball and press when we don't have it."

 

December 14, 2024