Serie A, Napoli-Verona 2-2

Turin, Jan. 7 (LaPresse) – Napoli slows down in the race for the top of the table, drawing 2-2 against Verona at the Maradona Stadium in the Serie A match valid for the 19th round. It was an uphill battle for the Italian champions, who went behind in the 16th minute thanks to Frese’s backheel from Niasse’s cross and conceded a second goal in the 28th minute from a penalty converted by Orban for a handball by Buongiorno. In the second half, the Campanians reacted with pride, reducing the deficit in the 9th minute with McTominay following a corner kick – aided by a mistake by Montipò – and then equalizing in the 37th minute thanks to Di Lorenzo’s winning insertion, set up by Marianucci. Earlier, with the score at 2-1, Napoli had two goals disallowed, one by Hojlund for handball and one by McTominay for offside. The final push by the Campania side did not produce results; on the contrary, it was Giovane who had the chance to make it 3-2 in injury time. Napoli thus moves up to 38 points in the standings, temporarily tying Milan in second place, one point behind leaders Inter. Hellas, on the other hand, after two consecutive defeats, moves up to 13 points, two points from the safety zone.