A dominant second-half display saw Napoli overturn a 1-0 deficit and claim three big points with a 3-1 triumph in Udine on Saturday.
The hosts were awarded a penalty midway through the first half when Stanislav Lobotka was adjudged to have handled in the box. Alex Meret saved Florian Thavin's initial spot-kick but was helpless to prevent the Frenchman firing in the rebound.
Five minutes after the restart, Scott McTominay threaded a perfectly weighted ball through the middle for Romelu Lukaku to run onto. The Belgian used his body well to hold off the attentions of the Udinese defenders and fire past Razvan Sava for the equaliser.
David Neres – a thorn in Udinese's side all evening – then forced an own goal out of Lautaro Giannetti to give the Azzurri the lead with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Frank Anguissa made sure of the points soon after with a powerful run from midfield and a cool finish.
Antonio Conte had the following to say after the match:
“We shouldn't be misled by the way the game panned out because we fell behind in fortuitous fashion from a shot that led to a penalty. We controlled the game with confidence from the very first minute.
“We deserved the win and we have to keep playing this kind of football, trying to dominate games and keeping hold of the ball.”
“David [Neres] has been training with us for a while and I know what he can give to the team. There have been times when he's played less but I was perfectly aware of his quality. I knew he was a fantastic player and he's improved a lot physically in the last few months too. He works away quietly but with great intensity and professionalism. He deserved to start today and it should be a message to everyone that you have to show you're at your best if you want to play.
“I don't just train a team. I train 22 players who know what score we're playing when they go out onto the pitch. I'm fortunate to have a squad who give me their absolute all and that's reassuring for me.
“As I've said before, we've started a process that we have to carry out gradually and realistically, aware that it's up to us to go and take what we deserve with determination because you can take nothing for granted in football. We have to earn success with our strength because nobody gives you anything.”
Club captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said: “We needed to bounce back because great teams have to know how to respond to defeat. We won at a tough ground and we're happy. Although we turned it around in the second half, we held our shape well in the first half too.
“We were unlucky to concede the opening goal was and we never suffered. We showed the right spirit to get back in it and overall we deserved the three points.”
Frank Anguissa, scorer of the third goal, also expressed his satisfaction:
“We're a great team and we showed that. We responded well after conceding and that means we have the strength and the mentality to compete.
“We're not looking at the table or other teams. We know how good we are as a squad and we want to keep going, keep improving and challenging at the top.”
David Neres, one of the best performers on the night, added: “I'm happy with the win and the performance. Getting the three points was the most important thing because we wanted to return to winning ways today.
“I gave everything out there to help the team. I want to be ready physically and mentally whenever the boss calls upon me.”
Udinese 1-3 Napoli (HT 1-0)
Scorers: Thauvin 23, Lukaku 50, Giannetti 76 (OG), Anguissa 81
Udinese: Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Giannetti (Bravo 83), Ehizibue (70' Kamara), Lovric (Atta 34), Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp (Abankwah 83), Zemura (Modesto 83), Thauvin, Lucca.
Coach: Runjaic.
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera, Anguissa, Lobotka (Gilmour 89), McTominay, Politano (Ngonge 85), Neres (Raspadori 85), Lukaku (Simeone 80).
Coach: Conte.
Referee: Doveri (Rome).
Booked: Atta, Politano.
