Mertens double helps Napoli win, Juve thrash Roma
7 Jan 2014 7:48 AM IST
The Belgian provided the breakthrough for the home team after 53 minutes when he volleyed in Gonzalo Higuain’s cross, just as Sampdoria were threatening to take control.
Manolo Gabbiadini blasted against the crossbar as the visitors almost grabbed a quick equaliser, only for Mertens to make the game safe by curling in a 25-metre free kick in the 62nd minute.
The win gave third-placed Napoli 39 points from 18 games, two behind Roma who lost 3-0 at leaders Juventus on Sunday.
In their previous six games, Rafael Benitez’s Napoli had lost 3-0 to Juve and 1-0 at home to Parma, beaten Lazio and Inter Milan and dropped points at home to Udinese in a 3-3 draw and in a 1-1 draw at Cagliari.
It was sixth from bottom Sampdoria’s first defeat in six games since Sinisa Mihajlovic took over as coach. Juventus romped to a 3-0 win over nine-man Roma on Sunday to end the visitors’ unbeaten run in the league this season and extend their lead in Serie A to eight points. High-flying Roma came to Turin confident of taking at least a share of the spoils in a bid to close the gap to Antonio Conte’s leaders and to protect their unbeaten streak after 17 games.
However the early spark shown by Rudi Garcia’s men fizzled out quickly and any kind of fightback from going 2-0 down in the 48th minute looked slim after Daniele De Rossi and Leandro Castan were sent off late in the second half.
Juve’s 16th win of the campaign left them top on 49 points, eight ahead of Roma and 13 ahead of Napoli ahead of their home game against Sampdoria on Monday when the rest of the programme will resume.
KAKA HITS DOUBLE IN AC MILAN’S 3-0 WIN
MILAN: Playmaker Kaka scored twice and 18-year-old Bryan Cristante notched his first professional goal as AC Milan beat Atalanta 3-0 on Monday, only their fifth Serie A win of the season.
Kaka, in his second stint with Milan, put them in front 10 minutes before the break with his 100th goal for the club in all competitions.
The Brazilian added another goal from close range in the 65th minute and Cristante completed the scoring two minutes later with a low shot which went in off the foot of the post as Milan climbed to 10th with 22 points from 18 games.
Manolo Gabbiadini blasted against the crossbar as the visitors almost grabbed a quick equaliser, only for Mertens to make the game safe by curling in a 25-metre free kick in the 62nd minute.
The win gave third-placed Napoli 39 points from 18 games, two behind Roma who lost 3-0 at leaders Juventus on Sunday.
In their previous six games, Rafael Benitez’s Napoli had lost 3-0 to Juve and 1-0 at home to Parma, beaten Lazio and Inter Milan and dropped points at home to Udinese in a 3-3 draw and in a 1-1 draw at Cagliari.
It was sixth from bottom Sampdoria’s first defeat in six games since Sinisa Mihajlovic took over as coach. Juventus romped to a 3-0 win over nine-man Roma on Sunday to end the visitors’ unbeaten run in the league this season and extend their lead in Serie A to eight points. High-flying Roma came to Turin confident of taking at least a share of the spoils in a bid to close the gap to Antonio Conte’s leaders and to protect their unbeaten streak after 17 games.
However the early spark shown by Rudi Garcia’s men fizzled out quickly and any kind of fightback from going 2-0 down in the 48th minute looked slim after Daniele De Rossi and Leandro Castan were sent off late in the second half.
Juve’s 16th win of the campaign left them top on 49 points, eight ahead of Roma and 13 ahead of Napoli ahead of their home game against Sampdoria on Monday when the rest of the programme will resume.
KAKA HITS DOUBLE IN AC MILAN’S 3-0 WIN
MILAN: Playmaker Kaka scored twice and 18-year-old Bryan Cristante notched his first professional goal as AC Milan beat Atalanta 3-0 on Monday, only their fifth Serie A win of the season.
Kaka, in his second stint with Milan, put them in front 10 minutes before the break with his 100th goal for the club in all competitions.
The Brazilian added another goal from close range in the 65th minute and Cristante completed the scoring two minutes later with a low shot which went in off the foot of the post as Milan climbed to 10th with 22 points from 18 games.
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