Federico Chiesa cancelled out a Dries Mertens strike, but a Napoli side missing nine players impressed with a 1-1 draw away to Juventus.
There were doubts the game would go ahead at all, just like in October 2020, because the Partenopei had an outbreak of COVID-19 ruling out Kevin Malcuit, Victor Osimhen, Fabian Ruiz, Hirving Lozano, Alex Meret and the suspended Mario Rui, as well as coach Luciano Spalletti. Kalidou Koulibaly, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Adam Ounas were at the Africa Cup of Nations. It was thought Piotr Zielinski, Amir Rrahmani and Stanislav Lobotka would also be quarantined, but had permission to play.
Juve missed Leonardo Bonucci, Danilo and Aaron Ramsey, while Giorgio Chiellini had COVID, so Daniele Rugani got a rare start in defence and Federico Chiesa returned from injury.
Weston McKennie should’ve given Juve the lead within four minutes, but his free header from a corner was wide.
Napoli grew into the game and took the lead when Matteo Politano knocked down a Lorenzo Insigne ball over the top for Dries Mertens, who drilled it through the legs of Alex Sandro, with Wojciech Szczesny’s fingertip rendering the attempted Matthijs de Ligt goal-line clearance futile.
Juan Cuadrado flashed his attempt across the face of goal after a sublime first touch, but Szczesny flew to push a Zielinski strike over the bar.
Napoli were dangerous on a rapid counter, from which the Mertens free kick whistled just wide, while Chiesa’s volley was charged down by Faouzi Ghoulam.
Chiesa got the equaliser with a bit of luck, as his shot took a deflection off Lobotka’s leg and squirmed past Ospina into the far bottom corner.
Ospina was on his toes to parry a Chiesa half-volley and Szczesny did the same on Mertens at the back post, while Paulo Dybala came off the bench and immediately tested the goalkeeper from distance.
In stoppages, Moise Kean nodded a Cuadrado cross over the bar and Juve were furious when the referee stopped play just as they were about to take a corner.
Juventus 1-1 Napoli
Mertens 23 (N), Chiesa 54 (J)