Napoli beats Juventus, could seal Serie A title next weekend

ROME: Giovanni Di Lorenzo is starting to think about what it will feel like to become the first Napoli captain other than Diego Maradona to raise the Serie A trophy. A 1-0 win at Juventus on Sunday means Napoli could seal its first Italian league title since Maradona played for the club as soon as next weekend. “Thinking about it is kind of strange.

Being the first captain after the great Maradona to raise it means something inside,” Di Lorenzo said. “It’s going to be an incredible emotion.” A stoppage-time goal from Giacomo Raspadori moved the runaway Italian leader a whopping 17 points ahead of second-place Lazio, which was beaten 1-0 at home by Torino on Saturday. If Napoli beats regional rival Salernitana at home next Saturday and Inter Milan prevents Lazio from winning at the San Siro a day later, Napoli will have clinched with six rounds to spare.

Maradona led Napoli to its only previous league championships in 1987 and 1990. Sensing the title nearing, Napoli celebrated wildly after the goal and at the final whistle. The victory was a welcome relief after a recent dip in form that included Napoli being eliminated from the Champions League quarterfinals by AC Milan.

“We celebrated a bit in the locker room, because it moves us closer to our goal and our dream,” Di Lorenzo said. Raspadori was left unmarked to volley in a cross from Elif Elmas just when Juventus was gaining confidence and threatening at the other end. “I’m shaking,” Raspadori said.

“It is a very important goal but we still have games that need to be won. ... (But) we have only one thing in mind: earning three points against Salernitana.” Napoli didn’t place a single shot on target in the first half, and the Partenopei were fortunate when the referee