Naples just lived one of those nights the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona will be talking about for years: Rasmus Hojlund scored twice to give Napoli a 2–1 win over Juventus, send Antonio Conte’s side top of Serie A, and hand Luciano Spalletti his first league defeat as Juve coach – on his emotional return to the stadium where he became a legend.
A Fiery Reunion in Naples
This wasn’t just another big-game Sunday in Serie A.
Spalletti was back in Naples for the first time as an opponent since guiding Napoli to their historic Scudetto in 2023, now in charge of a Juventus side trying to claw their way back into the title race.
Across the touchline stood
Antonio Conte, under huge pressure only a few weeks ago after a bad loss to Bologna, now suddenly riding a hot streak and pushing Napoli back into the thick of the title fight.
Napoli came into this clash on a
four-game winning run in all competitions despite an injury crisis, while Juve were unbeaten in the league since Spalletti took over in late October.
Hojlund Announces Himself – Twice
Napoli started like a team on a mission.
- On just
7 minutes, Brazilian winger
David Neres burned down the right and whipped in a low cross.
-
Hojlund, perfectly positioned, met it first time to give Napoli an early 1–0 lead – his
first taste of this fixture, first goal of the night, and first league goal since early October.
Napoli kept pushing for a second, with
Scott McTominay twice going close from headers and Giovanni Di Lorenzo forcing a fingertip save from Juve keeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Juventus, meanwhile, created almost nothing before the break. Spalletti’s setup –
Kenan Yildiz as a false nine, supported by Francisco Conceição and Weston McKennie – struggled badly to build attacks or win long balls, leaving Napoli firmly in control.
Yildiz Strikes Back… Briefly
The game flipped after halftime.
Despite Napoli’s pressure, it was
Juventus who landed the next punch:
- Around the
58th minute, Juve finally pieced together a slick move.
- McKennie supplied a clever assist, and
Kenan Yildiz drilled a precise low shot from a tight angle into the far corner to make it
1–1, Juve’s first real chance of the match.
For a moment, it felt like classic Juventus: suffer, then punish.
But that reaction never really materialized. After equalizing, Juve’s threat faded again. Spalletti even removed Yildiz and Conceição, and Juve’s attacking spark dimmed just as they needed it most.
Hojlund’s Winner and Conte’s Redemption Arc
Napoli refused to panic.
With about
12 minutes left, they turned again to the man of the night:
Rasmus Hojlund.
- A cross into the box found the Dane once more, and he powered home his
second goal to restore Napoli’s lead at
2–1.
- The brace sealed a statement win and extended Napoli’s remarkable run of
seven straight home victories over Juventus at the Maradona.
Conte, who only weeks earlier looked to be on the brink at Napoli, didn’t hide his emotion after full time.
He called it a moment to say
“thank you, thank you, thank you to the players,” praising how they’ve grown, embraced his ideas, and responded despite injuries and pressure.
Napoli have now
won five in a row in all competitions, and next head to Portugal to face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, suddenly looking like a team reborn.
What This Means for the Serie A Title Race
This wasn’t just a sentimental reunion or a grudge match. It reshaped the table.
-
Napoli move
one point clear of Inter Milan at the top after 14 games.
- They could, however, be overtaken on goal difference if
AC Milan beat Torino in their upcoming match.
-
Juventus sit
eight points off the pace, stuck down in
seventh place and drifting away from the top four.
For Spalletti, the loss stings twice: his
first league defeat with Juventus, and it came at the very ground where he wrote his greatest chapter, now as the beaten visitor.
For Conte, this feels like a turning point. Under fire not long ago, he now has:
- A team grinding out wins through an injury crisis
- A striker in
Hojlund who just delivered in the biggest league test so far
- A fanbase fully back on board after a cathartic win over their old coach and old rival
Key Takeaways
-
Hojlund is emerging as Napoli’s new big-game forward, breaking a scoring drought with a decisive brace in a marquee fixture.
-
Conte’s Napoli look mentally tougher, winning late and managing pressure in a tight title race.
-
Spalletti’s Juventus have real problems in attack, especially without a true target man, and risk sliding out of Champions League contention if they don’t find solutions fast.
- The
Serie A title race is now a three-way drama: Napoli on top for now, Inter close behind, and Milan lurking with a game that could reshuffle the standings again.
If this match is any indication, Napoli–Juventus under Conte and Spalletti is about to become one of Serie A’s must-watch rivalries all over again.
Sources
1. HIGHLIGHTS | Hojlund sends Napoli on top with a brace - YouTube
2. Rasmus Hojlund Brace Shoots Napoli Past Luciano Spalletti's Juventus And Top Of Serie A
3. Napoli 2-1 Juventus: Spalletti suffers first defeat on his Maradona return
