Spalletti tells Napoli to put title champagne on ice

Luciano Spalletti said it isn't time for Napoli to start celebrating despite a last-gasp 1-0 triumph at Juventus leaving his team needing potentially one more win to claim a historic Serie A title.

Giacomo Raspadori smashed in a stoppage-time goal to claim a huge win at Juve which pushed Napoli 17 points clear at the top of the table, sweeping aside disappointment at being knocked out of the Champions League by AC Milan midweek.

If Napoli beats regional rival Salernitana on Saturday it will need Inter Milan to avoid a home defeat to Lazio on Sunday to be crowned champion for the first time since 1990.

"We need to wait before we pop any bottles, and hearts, because we still have a little way to go," said Spalletti to DAZN.

"They played really well and it wasn't easy to do that so soon after being knocked out of the Champions League. I don't think we could have done any more tonight."

Barring a nightmare collapse in the final seven games of the season Napoli will win the league, the crowning glory of Spalletti's career which has been a long road from lower-league soccer as a player to the summit of the Italian game.

The Scudetto would be his first league title since the two he won in Russia with Zenit Saint-Petersburg in 2010 and 2012 and his first trophy in a major league since an Italian Cup with Roma in 2008.

The 64-year-old has long been considered a capable coach who doesn't have the winning mentality, who gets his teams playing great soccer but who ultimately achieves little.

"It's obviously very satisfying to be here," added Spalletti. "It has been a tougher road here for me than for others who began from a higher level, those who earned respect from their playing careers and had the opportunity to lead a top team right from the start."

Juve losing streak

A goalless first half saw defensive Juventus allowing Napoli to enjoy the lion's share of possession, awaiting chances to counterattack. The approach did not result in many chances for either side and Juve managed only three shots on target.

Napoli's first attempt of significance came five minutes into the second half from winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny did well to keep his low strike out.

The game sprung to life with 20 minutes left when Napoli came close to taking the lead through striker Victor Osimhen who fired just centimeters wide of the post.

A minute later Osimhen connected with a corner but headed the ball into the arms of Szczesny and soon after this season's Serie A top scorer sent the ball narrowly over the bar.

Juve, clearly fired up, thought it had taken the lead with a stunning solo effort by Angel Di Maria in the 82nd minute. However, Di Maria's strike was canceled out after a VAR check for Arkadiusz Milik's tackle on Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka in the buildup.

Late substitute Dusan Vlahovic then found the net for Juve in added time but his effort was ruled out as well because the ball left the pitch before Federico Chiesa's cross.

Napoli sealed its eighth away league win in a row through Raspadori, who beat Szczesny with a volley following a beautifully lofted cross by midfielder Eljif Elmas.

"I congratulated the team because they played a good game after (Tuesday's) Champions League exit, which is always dramatic because you have a lot of thoughts and you carry some fatigue with you," Spalletti told DAZN.

"To do more than that today was difficult."

Juventus has suffered its first three-game losing streak in Serie A since 2011 after a 1-0 loss to Sassuolo saw it fall to consecutive league defeats for the first time this term. It is winless in five of its last six games in all competitions.

"We played a good game against a strong Napoli," said Juventus coach Max Allegri.

"It wasn't easy to spend four months in those conditions, finding the energy and concentration to get results," he added referring to the club's points deduction that was imposed in January.

Agencies