Napoli and Juventus keep up the pressure
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Article summary
AS Roma's lead at the top of Serie A is down to two points for the moment after SSC Napoli beat ambitious ACF Fiorentina and Juventus won 4-0 against Calcio Catania.
Article top media content
Article body
SSC Napoli and Juventus kept up the pressure on Serie A leaders AS Roma after beating ACF Fiorentina and Calcio Catania respectively on Wednesday.
Napoli's José Callejón broke the deadlock after 12 minutes at Fiorentina with a wonderful volley from Gonzalo Higuaín's cross. While the division's top scorer Giuseppe Rossi equalised from the penalty spot, Napoli conjured what proved to be the winner nine minutes before half-time, Dries Mertens finding the bottom corner with a left-footed shot after a one-two with Higuaín. Both sides finished with ten men as Napoli's Christian Maggio and Fiorentina's Juan Cuadrado were dismissed.
Juventus had an easier time against Catania in Turin. They were 2-0 up at the interval courtesy of a deflected Arturo Vidal strike and a trademark free-kick from Andrea Pirlo, with Carlos Tévez and Leonardo Bonucci making it 4-0 with close-range efforts in the second half. Catania also had Tiberio Guarente sent off.
Elsewhere, a fine Kaká goal was not enough for AC Milan to overcome SS Lazio, Michaël Ciani earning the visitors a 1-1 draw at San Siro. On Tuesday night, FC Internazionale Milano were held 1-1 by Atalanta BC in Bergamo. Pacesetters Roma play host to AC Chievo Verona on Thursday.