Napoli remained three points clear at the top of Serie A on Saturday after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Lecce while title rivals Inter Milan beat Verona by the same score ahead of their Champions League semi-final showdown with Barcelona.
Antonio Conte’s team are one step closer to a second league title in three seasons thanks to Giacomo Raspadori’s well-struck free-kick in the 24th minute of a match which was briefly stopped by home fans’ fiery protest against the league following the death of a beloved club physio.
Napoli need seven points from their final three games of the season against Genoa, Parma and Cagliari to guarantee a fourth league crown after their fourth straight win without conceding a goal.
And that’s assuming reigning champions Inter win all three of their concluding league matches at Torino, against Lazio and at 10th-placed Como, who earlier secured a fifth consecutive win in Serie A for the first time in their history with a 1-0 success at Parma.
“I can’t deny that it was a big step (towards the title),” said Conte told DAZN.
“I was worried about this match against a tough team and in a particular atmosphere. I have a team which can find a way to win in all sorts of situations… but we can’t get complacent.”
Lecce meanwhile stay one place and point above the relegation zone and will drop into the bottom three if Empoli beat Lazio on Sunday.
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