Napoli captain Matteo Politano delivered an help and the successful aim as his aspect secured a 2-1 Serie A victory over Lecce on Saturday, maintaining their top-four hopes firmly on observe.
Antonio Conte’s aspect had been shocked early on on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as Jamil Seibert put Lecce forward after simply three minutes, guiding Antonino Gallo’s cross into the top-right nook.
The guests – who’re battling to keep away from relegation this season – practically doubled their lead quickly after, with Lameck Banda seeing a goal-bound effort nicely blocked by Mathias Olivera.
After Billy Gilmour failed to search out the goal from an environment friendly cut-back, Politano got here near equalising as his curling effort drifted simply previous the far submit.
Conte’s adjustments on the break, together with the introductions of the just lately returned Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay, helped Napoli regain management.
The hosts levelled instantly after the restart when Politano picked out Rasmus Hojlund for a easy tap-in from shut vary 50 seconds after the break.
The Dane practically added a second moments later however despatched a close-range header off course, earlier than Walid Cheddira struck the aspect netting on the different finish.
Politano finally sealed the outcome within the 67th minute, assembly De Bruyne’s flicked nook on the again submit with a intelligent volley that rifled previous Wladimiro Falcone.
Full time: #NapoliLecce 2-1
#ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/4Nq0lSQ6CI
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) March 14, 2026
Information Debrief: Politano breaks dry spell in fashion
Politano has now offered 5 assists in 26 Serie A matches this season, trumping his tally of 4 from final season.
Previous to Saturday’s outcome, the Napoli skipper had extra pictures general (36) and pictures on track (eight) with out scoring than another participant in Serie A this season, although he broke that dry spell in some fashion towards Lecce.
And he took half in his one hundredth Serie A aim (101 in whole – 54 objectives, 47 assists) as he made a useful contribution for Napoli.
His second-half winner implies that Napoli at the moment are unbeaten of their first 14 residence Serie A matches this season, marking solely the second time within the three-points-for-a-win period (since 1994-95) that they’ve managed the feat, after doing so in 2015-16 beneath Maurizio Sarri.
