Napoli sinks Juve in their own background

Napoli sinks Juve in their own background

Napoli came from two down to snatch a dramatic yet thoroughly deserved 3-2 win at Juventus on Saturday.

Napoli came from two behind for the second time this week, but this time went one better than they did against AC Milan on Wednesday by winning in Turin.

David Trezeguet's goal in the 35th minute and a Sebastian Giovinco strike early in the second half put the Bianconeri in control.

But Napoli's never-say-die attitude saw them reduce the arrears through Marek Hamsik five minutes later before Jesus Datolo scored a deserved equaliser in the 64th minute.

Hamsik's seventh goal of the season was enough to win the game for Walter Mazzarri's resurgent Napoli, who have picked up more points in their last four games than they did in the previous seven under Roberto Donadoni.

To make matters worse for Juventus, who failed to close in on Inter Milan at the top of Serie A, they lost Amauri to a red card in stoppage time.

Giovinco had the chance to open the scoring with just 17 seconds on the clock when he raced clear, but he placed his shot just wide of Morgan De Sanctis' far post.

Napoli showed enough examples of their new-found confidence since Mazzarri took over as coach from Donadoni.

German Denis missed several great chances to put them ahead, missing a Christian Maggio cross by a matter of inches with a diving header in the seventh minute and then twice meeting corners with his headers going agonisingly wide of the far post, just ahead of Ezequiel Lavezzi on both occasions.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was by far and away the busier of the two custodians and he had to be alert to tip Salvatore Aronica's 25-yard shot over the crossbar.

But it was the Bianconeri who took the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute with Trezeguet showing a goalscorer's instinct to meet Zdenek Grygera's left-wing corner and head it past De Sanctis.

Substitute Tiago almost made it two with his first touch of the game in the 49th minute, but Paolo Cannavaro blocked the Portuguese midfielder's effort.

Giovinco did establish a two-goal lead five minutes later, accepting a gift from Napoli defender Matteo Contini to provide a cool finish.

Napoli came from two goals behind in midweek to draw with Milan so Juve were warned.

And the comeback commenced in the 59th minute when Hamsik stole in to convert Datolo's low cross at the far post.

Napoli scored a deserved equaliser five minutes later with Denis again causing problems in the Juventus penalty area.

He met Hamsik's corner full on with a header which Buffon could only parry. Denis was unable to send the rebound in, but he got enough of a touch to set up Datolo to slide the ball into the back of the net to restore parity.

Napoli had the wind between their sails and Mazzarri threw all caution to the wind by sending Fabio Quagliarella on for a tiring Denis to provide more energy to his attack.

Juve coach Ciro Ferrara responded by sending Amauri on for Christian Poulsen, but it was still Napoli asking all the questions.

And they got the answer they were looking for with just under 10 minutes remaining with Hamsik putting them ahead for the first time.

Datolo was this time the provider with the cross which Tiago only really helped on to the Slovakian to net the winner and make it three wins in four games for Mazzarri as they continue to climb the table.

Amauri was sent off as he was picked out by the referee as the biggest culprit in a goalmouth melee as the game went deep into stoppage time with Juve searching in vain for an equaliser.