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Napoli missed the chance to move to the top of Serie A after being held to a goalless draw by struggling Venezia. The 2023 champions dominated the match, registering 15 shots on goal, but were repeatedly denied by an outstanding performance from Venezia goalkeeper Ionut Radu. The Romanian shot-stopper made seven crucial saves, securing a valuable point for his second-bottom side.
Despite Napoli's dominance, Venezia nearly snatched a dramatic late winner in stoppage time but failed to finish off a sweeping counter-attack. This result adds to Napoli's recent struggles, as they have now drawn five of their last seven league games. Manager Antonio Conte remained optimistic despite the frustration, stating, "I am satisfied with the performance. We wanted to win, but the positive aspect is that we created a lot. The negative is that we didn't convert our chances. We needed to be more incisive because the team that scores goals wins."
Conte emphasized that Napoli will continue to fight for the title, saying, "There are nine games left, and we'll try to be a nuisance until the end, fighting tooth and nail." Looking ahead, Napoli will host AC Milan after the international break, which Conte believes will provide much-needed rest for his exhausted squad. "We only have half a team left," he admitted, highlighting the toll of injuries and fatigue.
Conte, a former Chelsea and Tottenham boss, has previously won Serie A titles with both Inter Milan and Juventus. His experience and tactical acumen will be crucial as Napoli aims to stay in contention for the title in the final stretch of the season.
Elsewhere in Serie A, Bologna delivered a stunning performance, thrashing Lazio 5-0 to climb above them and break into the top four. Two quickfire goals in the space of 94 seconds early in the second half proved decisive, as Riccardo Orsolini and Dan Ndoye put the game beyond Lazio's reach.
Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri's Roma kept their European hopes alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cagliari, thanks to a goal from Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk.
In other key fixtures, Fiorentina will take on Juventus, while league leaders Inter Milan face third-placed Atalanta in a highly anticipated clash later on Sunday night. Inter will be looking to extend their lead at the top, while Atalanta aims to strengthen their position in the Champions League spots.
