Napoli beat Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday evening to move joint top of the table. The decisive goal came just after the half hour when David Neres finished from a Rasmus Hojlund assist. In the second half, the Azzurri managed the game confidently and fully earned the win on a joyous night in the capital.
Here is Antonio Conte’s reaction after the match:
“Coming to Rome and showing authority and personality the way we did wasn’t easy. The boys showed strength and character and the performance was at a very high level.
“I hope we don’t have any more injuries because we’re overcoming the difficulties brilliantly but we can’t afford further absences.
“The group is showing enthusiasm and energy to defend the title and try to rediscover our standards. We’re making a virtue out of necessity with the same spirit and determination that have always characterised us.
“Tonight the team gave an important response, but above all we gave it to ourselves because we know we need to put the helmet on when necessary. The boys also showed great commitment and we’ve rediscovered the right team spirit.”
David Neres, the standout performer, expressed his satisfaction:
“I’m happy with the goal but above all with the win. It’s important for the team to show what it’s capable of.
“We’re back at the top of the table, but we need to think match by match and work hard to give our best.”
Alessandro Buongiorno analysed the victory:
“We’re working on a new formation and it’s giving us great results. The coach always helps us to give our best, trying to understand our characteristics and those of the players on the pitch.
“We’ve had a few absences but the players who go on the pitch are giving everything. We earned a win of real value tonight and the results are providing justification.
“We have to continue with the same spirit. We’ve got a group of boys who make themselves available and work as hard as possible to achieve the objectives that Napoli deserve.”
Roma 0-1 Napoli (HT: 0-1)
Scorer: Neres 36.
ROMA: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso, Celik, Kone, Cristante (Aynaoui 62), Wesley (El Shaarawy 83), Soule (Dybala 62), Pellegrini (Bailey 80), Ferguson (Baldanzi 46).
Coach: Gasperini (Gritti in the dugout)
NAPOLI: Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, McTominay, Olivera, Neres (Lucca 85), Lang, Hojlund (Elmas 80).
Coach Conte
Referee: Massa (Imperia).
Booked: Cristante, Lobotka, Beukema.
