Napoli extend lead atop table: Inter, Roma draw in Serie A

FE Team | Published: January 22, 2018 21:33:04

MILAN, Jan 22 (Reuters): Napoli survived a tough test at Atalanta on Sunday as Dries Mertens' second-half goal secured a 1-0 win that kept them top of Serie A.
Lazio scored five goals for the second league game in a row as they hammered Chievo 5-1 despite an injury to Serie A top-scorer Ciro Immobile while veteran Fabio Quagliarella grabbed a hat-trick in Sampdoria's 3-1 win over Fiorentina.
Inter Milan and AS Roma extended winless runs as they drew 1-1 at the San Siro, with Matias Vecino heading a late equaliser for the hosts, and Franck Kessie scored twice to give AC Milan a 2-1 win in windy conditions at Cagliari.
Napoli, who avenged their home Coppa Italia defeat by Atalanta earlier this month, lead with 54 points from 21 games, four clear of Juventus who host Genoa on Monday with Lazio and Inter Milan level on 43 points. AS Roma are fifth with 40.
"We've won a really difficult match against a team that always makes us suffer. I'm very happy for us and our supporters." Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri said. "This was a very valuable win."
Mertens ran on to a through ball by Jose Callejon and let the ball bounce several times before scoring with a dipping half-volley over goalkeeper Etrit Berisha in the 65th minute. The Belgian, who had not scored in his last nine league games, took his tally for the season to 11 as his side extended their unbeaten away record in the league to 24 games. Lazio went ahead through Luis Alberto in the 23rd minute, were pegged back by Manuel Pucciarelli's goal two minutes later and regained the lead through Sergej Milinkovic-Savic just after the half hour.
Immobile, who has scored 20 league goals this season, limped off shortly afterwards.
Chievo were awarded a penalty in first-half stoppage time for a foul by Senad Lulic on Mariusz Stepinksi but the referee changed his mind after consulting the video replay system (VAR). Milinkovic-Savic scored the third with a brilliant volley in the 68th minute before Bastos and Nani added two more in the final 10 minutes to floor the Flying Donkeys.