TURIN, Italy, Feb 17, (V7N) – Juventus denied Inter Milan the chance to overtake Napoli at the top of Serie A with a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Turin on Sunday. Francisco Conceicao scored the decisive goal in the 74th minute, ensuring that Napoli remain two points clear at the summit. The win also moved Juve into the Champions League spots, climbing to fourth place on goal difference over Lazio.
Juventus’ Portuguese attacker Conceicao finished off a brilliant move from Randal Kolo Muani, scoring his fourth goal of the season. Despite a spirited performance, Inter were left to regret several missed opportunities, with Lautaro Martinez and Denzel Dumfries failing to convert clear chances in the first half. Juventus manager Thiago Motta, in his first season in charge, praised his team’s resilience, stating, "The win tonight gives us confidence and shows what we're capable of."
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi admitted his team lacked efficiency in front of goal. Marcus Thuram missed a late chance, sealing Inter’s fate. The defeat means Inter remain two points behind Napoli, with the two sides set to clash in a crucial showdown in Naples in two weeks—a match that could shape the Scudetto race. Juventus, meanwhile, shift their focus to their Champions League play-off second leg against PSV Eindhoven, holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.
Elsewhere, Como boosted their survival hopes with a 2-0 victory over Fiorentina. Goals from Assane Diao and Nico Paz ended their three-match losing streak and moved them up to 13th place, five points clear of the relegation zone. The newly promoted side, backed by significant winter transfers, saw Diao score his fourth goal in seven games since arriving from Real Betis, while Paz secured the win with a stunning long-range strike.
Meanwhile, Monza’s struggles continued despite the return of Alessandro Nesta as manager. Their 0-0 draw against Lecce left them rock-bottom, still seven points behind safety. Elsewhere, Udinese secured a crucial 3-0 win over Empoli, further shaking up the battle for survival in Serie A.
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