Napoli disappoint in 0-0 draw against Verona

NAPLES, Italy : Leaders Napoli were held to a goalless home draw by relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in Serie A on Saturday as Luciano Spalletti's side finished winless for the third time in their last four games in all competitions.

Napoli, who on Wednesday were beaten 1-0 at AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, saw their advantage over second-placed Lazio narrow to 13 points after Maurizio Sarri's men grabbed a comfortable 3-0 win at lowly Spezia on Friday.

Coach Spalletti rested midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and defender Mario Rui from the starting line-up with Tuesday's return leg in mind, but both Lobotka and Kvaratskhelia were called on in the second half.

Serie A's top scorer Victor Osimhen, who returned to Napoli's match squad after being sidelined with a thigh strain but was expected to be back in action only for the European clash, also came on from the bench.

Napoli thought they had opened the scoring in the 20th minute but Matteo Politano's deflected strike was disallowed after Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo was obstructed by a player in an offside position.

The visitors had a chance to take a surprise lead just before the half-hour mark but striker Kevin Lasagna, who ended a solo run with a powerful shot from a distance, was denied by Napoli keeper Alex Meret.

Although Napoli enjoyed the lion's share of possession, reaching 81 per cent in the second half, they appeared toothless against Verona's solid defence and managed only three shots in the opening 45 minutes, none of them on target.

The hosts came close to taking the lead again in the 56th minute through a Giovanni Di Lorenzo header which, however, went narrowly wide of the right post.

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