Napoli staged a rousing comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Juventus in Saturday’s action-packed clash, handing the visitors their first Serie A defeat of the season.
Randal Kolo Muani, signed on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, scored on his debut to give Juventus the lead two minutes before the break, pouncing on a rebound to volley past goalkeeper Alex Meret and send Antonio Conte’s side in to the break behind.
The league leaders responded after the break through André-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s composed header, which levelled the scores after 57 minutes. The hosts then won a penalty after Manuel Locatelli fouled Scott McTominay. Romelu Lukaku stepped up to convert the spot-kick and move Napoli six points clear of Inter, who have two games in hand.
Atalanta boosted their title bid with a 2-1 comeback win against lowly Como, who led at the break through Nico Paz’s fine finish into the top corner on the half-hour mark. Mateo Retegui turned the game around in the second half, a left-footed volley and composed low finish earning victory and taking his league goal tally to 16. Atalanta stay third but are now a point behind Inter, who visit Lecce on Sunday.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich secured a 2-1 victory at Freiburg to move six points clear at the top. Goals from Harry Kane and Kim Min-jae earned a nervous win as Leverkusen let a two-goal lead slip to draw at RB Leipzig.
Bayern were eager to make amends following Wednesday’s shock 3-0 loss to Feyenoord in the Champions League and started well, hitting the post through Jamal Musiala early on. Kane put them in front in the 15th minute with a sharp turn and low drive on the edge of the box for the league top scorer’s 17th goal of the campaign.
Kim headed in at the near post from a corner nine minutes after the restart to make it 2-0 but it was far from over as the hosts fought back. Freiburg pulled a goal back in the 68th minute through Matthias Ginter’s header and went on the attack, carving out several chances for an equaliser but eventually slipping to a third straight league loss.
“I knew this game would not be easy so what happened here today was not strange,” the Bayern coach, Vincent Kompany, told a press conference. “We knew we would have to fight. Maybe it was not our prettiest game but it was a good win because this Freiburg team at home is very tough to beat.”
The defending champions, Bayer Leverkusen, wasted a two-goal lead and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Leipzig. The visitors took the lead when Florian Wirtz hit the post after a dazzling solo run, but Patrik Schick drilled home the rebound. Wirtz continued his brilliant form to set up Aleix García to tap home a second goal before half-time.
Leipzig launched their comeback four minutes before the break through David Raum’s free kick and should have levelled when Benjamin Sesko found himself with the ball in front of goal, but his shot was blocked by keeper Lukas Hradecky. The hosts did get their equaliser five minutes from time as Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba headed a cross in for a spectacular own goal.
“The result could be better as well as worse,” Alonso said. “We had our chances to score a third goal. We could have killed off the game. It is a pity but it is tough to come here after our game [against Atlético Madrid]. We need to keep going.”
Ten-man Borussia Dortmund ended their four-game losing run but still let a two-goal lead slip in their 2-2 draw at home to Werder Bremen.
The hosts were led by interim coach Mike Tullberg after Nuri Sahin was sacked on Wednesday following the Champions League defeat to Bologna. The Dane suffered early setbacks as Felix Nmecha went off injured and defender Nico Schlotterbeck was sent off in the 20th minute.
Serhou Guirassy headed home in the 28th minute to put the 10-man hosts in the driving seat, and then saw his cut-back turned into his own net by Werder’s Marco Friedl soon after half-time. The visitors pulled a goal back through Leonardo Bittencourt in the 65th minute, and Marvin Duksch completed the comeback with a good finish just seven minutes later.
Werder had the better chances for a winner late in the game but Tullberg defended his team after the match. “The boys put everything out there. You cannot accuse them of anything,” he said. “I am more positive after the game than negative. We played 70 minutes with 10 players but still got a point.”
In Spain, Atlético Madrid salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal as Samuel Lino’s close-range effort in the second half cancelled out a controversial penalty converted by Gerard Moreno.
Atlético dominated the game but it was the visitors who took the lead in the 29th minute, with Moreno converting a spot kick after the referee ruled he was fouled from behind by Reinildo Mandava, who appeared to touch the ball first before making contact with the Villarreal forward.
The hosts piled on the pressure, with Julián Álvarez forcing goalkeeper Luiz Júnior into two fine saves from the edge of the box. Lino tapped home in the 58th minute after the visiting keeper failed to hold Ángel Correa’s close range-strike. Luiz Júnior made amends with a stunning one-handed save to keep out Pablo Barrios’ thunderous strike late in the game.
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