Napoli return to the Serie A summit with a victory against Monza

Napoli are now at the summit of the Italian Serie A table, courtesy of their 2-0 win against Monza. 

The Perronopei emerged leaders after Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made short work of Alessandro Nesta’s side.

Napoli goalie Elia Caprile made a fingertip from a Pedro Pereira cross away from Milan Djuric in the opening minutes before the hosts eventually took control with long periods of possession and pressure.

They eventually got their reward with a breakthrough from Matteo Politano. The Italian winger tried to complete a give-and-go with Romelu Lukaku down the right before Alessandro Bianco intercepted, which turned into an accidental assist as the winger fired in from a tight angle with his left foot to score his first goal since April.

After their penalty appeals were waved away as Bianco grazed his foot on the outside line of the area,  Napoli doubled their lead.

They got the second goal through a ferocious high press that caught Monza out. Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa intercepted the ball for Stanislav Lobotka, who threaded it through for McTominay.  Andrea Carboni made a desperate sliding block, which put the ball in the direction of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who scored from 10 yards.

The hosts attempted to make it three after the restart as McTominay’s glancing header shaved a coat of paint off the far post from the Politano corner.

Monza had an opportunity to reduce the deficit when Caprile received a Milan Djuric header while Daniel Maldini’s free-kick whistled wide of the upright.

Napoli searched for the killing goal, but Pedro Pereira made a decisive interception on McTominay in the box, while Giacomo Raspadori hit the side-netting from a tricky angle.

Having failed to get the third, Napoli held on to manage the game to take home maximum points.

The Naple club tops the Serie A table with 13 points from the first six games, leading Juventus with just a point, while Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Torino occupied the top five spots with 11 points each.