Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped move Napoli another step closer to a first Serie A title in more than three decades with a wonder goal in Saturday’s 2‑0 win over Atalanta, pushing his team 18 points clear. The Georgian winger lashed in the opening goal on the hour mark after spellbinding dribbling left Atalanta’s defence bewildered, and the ball finished in the net for his 11th league strike of the campaign. Napoli then stretched their lead on Inter Milan, who suffered a shock 2‑1 defeat at lowly Spezia on Friday.
In the late stages of the game, Amir Rrahmani sealed the points with a towering header from substitute Eljif Elmas’ corner, scoring with 13 minutes remaining. “We’re enjoying ourselves, we’re playing well even if it was difficult to begin with tonight because Atalanta are a good team,” Rrahmani told DAZN. “Of course we say it’s normal, we’re in a situation in which you can see with our fans how much they can feel it.”
Lazio could have narrowed the gap to 17 points with a win at Bologna, but a 0‑0 draw left them third. If they win their next match, they could move into second place, yet it seems only a matter of time before Napoli, southern Italy’s biggest club, win the Scudetto for the first time since 1990, when Diego Maradona still roamed the streets near Mount Vesuvius.
Napoli’s victory was straightforward but followed a nervy affair after their home defeat to Lazio last weekend. Before Kvaratskhelia’s strike, Napoli struggled to create chances; Victor Osimhen came closest shortly after the break with an ambitious bicycle kick, and a header from a corner also threatened. Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, on loan from Atalanta, performed well to deny efforts from Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata before Rrahmani sealed the win.
Now Napoli turn their attention to the visit of Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, looking to protect a 2‑0 first‑leg lead and secure a debut spot in the Champions League quarter‑finals. “When you come to Naples you enter into the history, what the people want, the feeling for the team that can become pressure,” said coach Spalletti. “You need to have imagination and believe that you can win.”
Atalanta’s third defeat in four matches will likely damage their bid for Europe’s top club competition, leaving them sixth and five points behind the top four. In Bologna, Pedro and Luis Alberto came close for Lazio in the first half, while Lewis Ferguson and Musa Barrow hit the woodwork for the hosts. Lazio could have overtaken Inter for second place, but the draw means they may finish the weekend in fifth if the two teams behind them win. Roma, currently fourth, host Sassuolo on Sunday, and AC Milan, fifth, face struggling Salernitana at the San Siro on Monday. Lazio and Roma meet in the Rome derby next weekend.
Bologna remained seventh, six points behind Atalanta, who occupy the last European slot. Earlier, Udinese snapped a six‑match winless streak with a 1‑0 victory at Empoli. Andrea Sottil’s side sit ninth on 35 points, level with Bologna and Juventus, after just their second win since the start of October. Empoli stay 14th but are 10 points above Verona, who sit just inside the relegation zone and host Monza on Sunday.
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