Serie A 2024-25: Frustrated league leader Napoli held at home by Udinese

Serie A 2024-25: Frustrated league leader Napoli held at home by Udinese

Napoli missed the chance to move a provisional six points clear atop Serie A after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Udinese on Sunday, its second successive stalemate.

Napoli, which had to settle for a 1-1 draw at AS Roma last week, now has 55 points, four clear of second-placed Inter Milan, which hosts Fiorentina on Monday. Udinese is 10th on 30.

In an eventful first half, both teams had chances to break the deadlock but Scott McTominay opened the scoring for Napoli in the 37th minute with a pinpoint header from close range following a corner by Matteo Politano.

It was the sixth league goal this season for the Scottish midfielder.

However, Udinese hit back three minutes later as Jurgen Ekkelenkamp equalised with a swerving long-range shot that deceived goalkeeper Alex Meret and flew into the bottom corner.

“I must say that the trajectory was very strange. It’s a pity because we gave the ball away… Congratulations to Jurgen because he scored a great goal,” Meret told DAZN.

“We don’t think about Inter, we think match by match as always. Today was important. We didn’t get the three points but the path is good and we have to look for victory against Lazio,” the goalkeeper added about next week’s fixture.

The visitor dominated the second half and came close to taking the lead when Sandi Lovric’s effort from outside the area was saved by Meret.

It went close again when Lorenzo Lucca’s right-foot shot from the left of the area was blocked following a pass from Jesper Karlstrom.

Antonio Conte’s Napoli side struggled to find its rhythm, although forwards Romelu Lukaku and David Neres went close. It continued to push in the dying minutes but Udinese held out.

“I’m very happy for this point and for the boys. We suffered but to play well against Napoli means that they did their best,” Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic said. 

Published on Feb 10, 2025