The year 2025 began beautifully for Napoli fans, evoking memories of 2023 when the city celebrated its third Italian championship title. The road to another Scudetto is long, but for at least a week, southern Italy can take pride in the fact that their team stands alone at the top of Serie A. With a commanding 3-0 victory in Florence, Napoli extended their lead over Atalanta to three points and over Inter to four, although they have played one more match than Atalanta and two more than Inter. The situation could shift once the northern teams return from Saudi Arabia, where the Supercoppa Italiana is underway. Still, the victory against Fiorentina will undoubtedly boost Napoli’s confidence ahead of the big derby in Bergamo on January 18. Moreover, Antonio Conte’s team has lost just one away match in Serie A this season, that being a 3-0 defeat to Verona in August. The win at Artemio Franchi marked Napoli’s ninth away victory and fourth consecutive on the road.🚨🎥 – Scott Mctominay scored yet ANOTHER goal for Napoli earlier tonight! 🏴❤️ pic.twitter.com/qr9R6OYuNX— Frank🧠🇵🇹 (fan) (@AmorimEra_) January 4, 2025 Adding to Napoli’s momentum is the fact that they achieved this triumph without three key players: center-back Alessandro Buongiorno and wingers Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano. Juan Jesus partnered Amir Rrahmani in defense and faced some challenges from Fiorentina’s top forward, Moise Kean. However, after Kean’s 35th-minute goal for 1-1 was disallowed for a handball, Napoli’s defense had little trouble for the remainder of the match. Earlier, one of Napoli’s “makeshift solutions,” David Neres (playing on the right wing with Leonardo Spinazzola on the left), weaved through the Fiorentina defense and struck brilliantly past David De Gea to give Napoli the lead in the 29th minute. After Kean’s disallowed goal, Napoli had a stroke of luck early in the second half when Matías Moreno’s risky play in his own box led to a penalty. Moreno lost the ball and then fouled André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, with Romelu Lukaku confidently converting the spot-kick.⚽️ GOAL: Lukaku converts it!🇮🇹 Fiorentina 0-2 Napolipic.twitter.com/GMdYiE5Wna— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) January 4, 2025 Although the three points were effectively secured by then, Conte’s men were not content to sit back. In the 68th minute, the impressive Scott McTominay continued his scoring streak in what is shaping up to be the best season of his career. After Anguissa’s cross into Fiorentina’s box, Pietro Comuzzo fumbled the clearance, and McTominay pounced, scoring his fourth Serie A goal of the season. He now needs just three more to match his career-best tally from the 2023/24 season with Manchester United. As for Fiorentina, their slump continued after an impressive run of eight consecutive wins. This was their third loss in their last four matches. Fiorentina fans had hoped for a revival following their 2-2 draw with Juventus in Turin, but Raffaele Palladino’s team showed little promise today. The club has now dropped to sixth place but still has a chance to secure a Champions League spot.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 19Saturday Venezia – Empoli (1-1)/Pohjanpalo 5 – Esposito 32/Fiorentina – Napoli 0-3 (0-1)/Neres 29, Lukaku (p) 54, McTominay 68/22.45: (2.85) Verona (3.25) Udinese (2.55)Sunday 14.30: (2.50) Monza (3.30) Cagliari (2.85)17.00: (2.70) Lecce (3.00) Genoa (2.90)20.00: (1.95) Torino (3.50) Parma (3.90)22.45: (2.55) Roma (3.25) Lazio (2.85)***odds are subject to change***
