Napoli 1-0 Lecce: Di Lorenzo takes Partenopei five points clear

A second-half goal from Giovanni Di Lorenzo was enough to earn Napoli a 1-0 win over struggling Lecce on Saturday, stretching their lead at the Serie A summit.

Di Lorenzo, who had a goal disallowed in the first half, bundled the ball into the net in the 73rd minute after his initial effort had been saved, and it proved enough to take all three points at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Lecce, despite their lowly position and dismal run of recent results, were far from outplayed by the league leaders but fell to their fourth successive defeat and remain second from bottom in the standings with five points.

The home side’s only real chance in the opening 45 minutes came close to half-time when Cyril Ngonge’s effort from distance brought a save from Wladimiro Falcone, while Lecce’s Federico Baschirotto also had a header saved by Alex Meret.

Napoli finally found a way through when Scott McTominay’s header from a corner was parried away by Falcone and, while the keeper also got a hand to Di Lorenzo’s first attempt from the rebound, Napoli’s captain scrambled home at the second time of asking.

Lecce tried to push forward in search of an equaliser but a side who have scored just three league goals all season never seriously threatened Meret’s goal and Napoli, while again far from convincing, earned the all-important three points.

Full time!#NapoliLecce 1-0

#ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/ZSVl27fgjv

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) October 26, 2024

Data Debrief: Partenopei rearguard driving title bid

Napoli were far from free-flowing on Saturday, but as has been the case on several occasions already this season, a solid defensive performance provided the basis for a victory.

They have kept five clean sheets in their last six league matches, as many as they managed in their previous 34.

Antonio Conte’s men are now unbeaten in their last eight league games (seven wins, one draw), their best run since February 2023, when they went on to win the Scudetto.