Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba scored spectacular second-half goals to help title-holders Juventus beat Napoli 3-0 last night, closing the gap on Serie A leaders Roma to one point and leaving their opponents trailing in third place.
Fernando Llorente gave Juventus a second-minute lead and, after goalkeeper Pepe Reina made two stunning saves to keep Napoli in the game, playmaker Pirlo fired a viciously dipping free-kick over the Napoli wall into the net from nearly 30 metres in the 74th minute.
He was then upstaged by Frenchman Pogba, who received a pass around 30 metres from goal, flicked the ball up and volleyed in past a bemused Reina six minutes later.
Roma had earlier conceded a 94th minute equaliser at home to Sassuolo as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by the Serie A newcomers.
Roma lead with 32 points from 12 games, with Juventus on 31 and Rafael Benitez’s Napoli on 28 after their second league defeat of the season.
Roma, who won their first 10 games, were held to their second successive 1-1 draw.
Rudi Garcia’s team went ahead in the 19th minute when Alessandro Longhi turned the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear after his goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo had brilliantly saved Alessandro Florenzi’s shot.
Roma had further chances but were surprised by a late flourish from the league debutants. There was a warning when goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis denied Antonio Floro Flores before Berardi fired the equaliser with almost the last kick of the game.
Elsewhere, Milan’s problems continued when they were held to a goalless draw at bottom club Chievo while Giuseppe Rossi scored two more goals to help fifth-placed Fiorentina to a 2-1 win over Sampdoria.
Milan, missing striker Mario Balotelli through suspension, extended their winless run to six games in all competitions, heaping more pressure on their phlegmatic coach Massimiliano Allegri.
They finished with 10 men after Riccardo Montolivo was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 81st minute while Chievo striker Sergio Pellisier was also dismissed in stoppage time and had to be restrained by officials as he left the field.
Milan, who have won only three times in 12 Serie A games and have 13 points, dominated the match and nearly snatched a win when Robinho hit the post with 10 minutes left and Kaka fired over from the rebound.
Alessandro Matri, their close season signing from Juventus who has scored only one goal for his new club, turned the ball wide from six metres when he had the goal at his mercy.
Although Milan created chances, their approach work was often pedestrian and Kaka was a shadow of the player who graced the San Siro before his unhappy four-year move to Real Madrid.
Serie A
Atalanta 2
Brivio 74; Livaja 90;
Bologna 1
Bianchi 77;
HT: 0-0. Att: 14,000.
Cagliari 2
Conti 43, 88;
Torino 1
Immobile 52;
HT: 1-0. Att: 7,500.
Chievo 0
Milan 0
Att: 11,000.
Red cards: Montolivo (M) 81; Pellissier (C) 90
Fiorentina 2
Rossi 11p, 17;
Sampdoria 1
Gabbiadini 74;
HT: 2-0. Att: 28,305.
Genoa 2
Portanova 29; Kucka 35;
Verona 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 19,760.
Juventus 3
Llorente 2; Pirlo 74; Pogba 80;
Napoli 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 41,068.
Red card: Ogbonna (J) 83.
Parma 1
Lucarelli 64;
Lazio 1
Keita 50;
HT: 0-0. Att: 12,000.
Red card: Rosi (P) 86.
Roma 1
Longhi 19og;
Sassuolo 1
Berardi 90;
HT: 1-0. Att: 46,052.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Roma | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 32 |
| Juventus | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 10 | 31 |
| Napoli | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 11 | 28 |
| Inter | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 12 | 25 |
| Fiorentina | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 14 | 24 |
| Verona | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 19 | 22 |
| Genoa | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 14 | 17 |
| Lazio | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Atalanta | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Milan | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 19 | 13 |
| Parma | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 10 | 13 |
| Udinese | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 13 |
| Cagliari | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 13 |
| Torino | 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 21 | 12 |
| Livorno | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 12 |
| Bologna | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 24 | 10 |
| Sassuolo | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 28 | 10 |
| Sampdoria | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 9 |
| Catania | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 9 |
| Chievo | 12 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 18 | 6 |
Top scorers
11 goals: Rossi (Fiorentina)
8 goals: Cerci (Torino)
7 goals: Palacio (Inter)
Next fixtures
Saturday, Nov. 23: 18.00 Verona vs Chievo. 20.45 Milan vs Genoa; Napoli vs Parma.
Sunday, Nov. 24: 15.00 Livorno vs Juventus; Sampdoria vs Lazio; Sassuolo vs Atalanta; Torino vs Catania; Udinese vs Fiorentina. 20.45 Bologna vs Inter.
Monday, Nov. 25: 20.45 Roma vs Cagliari.
Prima Divisione ‘A’
Carrarese vs Savona 1-4; Como vs Pro Patria 0-0; Venezia vs Reggiana 2-1; Cremonese vs Pro Vercelli 0-1; San Marino vs AlbinoLeffe 1-0; Pavia vs Lumezzane 2-2; Entella vs FeralpiSalo 2-2; Vicenza vs SudTirol 3-1.
Leading standings: Pro Vercelli, En-tella 21; Savona, Venezia 16; Cre-monese 15; AlbinoLeffe 13.
Prima Divisione ‘B’
Benevento vs Pisa 1-1; Gubbio vs Barletta 0-1; Pontedera vs Lecce 0-0; Grosseto vs Catanzaro 0-1; Perugia vs L’Aquila 2-1; Viareggio vs Ascoli 0-0; Prato vs Frosinone 3-3.
Leading standings: Pontedera, Pisa 21; Frosinone, L’Aquila 20; Catanzaro 19; Prato 18; Perugia 16.