Napoli take off to down Juve

Milan, January 27

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Piotr Zielinski and Lorenzo Insigne scored in the second-half as struggling Napoli shocked champions Juventus 2-1 to spoil coach Maurizio Sarri’s return to the Stadio San Paolo. Sarri had not been back to Naples since being sacked in May 2018 after three successful campaigns, and before moving to Chelsea.

This season he has taken over eight-time reigning champions Juve, a move seen as a betrayal by his former team, the two-time Serie A runners-up.

Juve missed the chance to open up a six-point lead on Inter Milan at the top of the table, after Antonio Conte’s side were earlier held 1-1 by Cagliari, their third consecutive draw. “It’s a victory for the whole of Naples,” said Insigne on Sunday after his team’s first home win in the league since October 19.

Real sneak past Valladolid

Valladolid (Spain): Real Madrid moved top of La Liga for the first time since October on Sunday after grinding out a 1-0 win away at Real Valladolid to make Barcelona pay for their surprise defeat to Valencia.

It is 16 weeks since Madrid last finished a round top of the pile and it looked like a scrappy contest at the Jose Zorilla would end goalless until Nacho headed in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.

Victory means Zinedine Zidane’s side pull three points ahead of Barca, whose 2-0 loss away to Valencia on Saturday under new coach Quique Setien could prove a turning point in a nip-and-tuck title race.

Madrid now have the luxury of hosting their struggling city rivals Atletico Madrid, who are 10 points back after a goalless home draw with Leganes earlier on Sunday, with a cushion next weekend, not to mention on the back of a 19-game unbeaten run. — AFP