Serie A | Lecce 1-2 Napoli: Leaders ride their luck in Lecce

Napoli found it tougher than expected to get the better of Lecce, winning with Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s header and an Antonino Gallo own goal after Federico Di Francesco equalised.

The Partenopei were shaken by a 4-0 home defeat to Milan, but still had a 16-point lead at the top of the table with Victor Osimhen and Matias Olivera injured, so Giacomo Raspadori stepped in. The Salentini had Samuel Umtiti and Youssef Maleh back from suspension, but Alexis Blin banned with Kastriot Dermaku and Marin Pongracic injured after a run of five consecutive defeats.

Lecce had a huge chance after eight minutes when a cross was knocked down for Maleh’s volley, Alex Meret flying to fingertip it out from under the crossbar. On the resulting corner, Federico Baschirotto nodded off target.

However, Napoli scored with their first real chance, as a free kick was not cleared effectively, Kim Min-jae put in a cross from the right and Giovanni Di Lorenzo was ready for a free header.

Wladimiro Falcone got down quickly to fingertip the Chucky Lozano low drive round the base of the near post, then on the resulting corner Maleh bravely charged down a Kvicha Kvaratskhelia strike.

Straight after the restart, Lecce had another promising opportunity, Remi Oudin only scuffing his volley on a Federico Di Francesco assist into the arms of Meret.

Kvaratskhelia slalomed between defenders to set up Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa for a shot charged down by Maleh, but Lecce got their equaliser.

Oudin’s free kick was floated to the back post for an Assan Ceesay header off the crossbar, it was not cleared effectively and Di Francesco pounced on the rebound. Lecce finally broke their goal drought after five games of firing blanks.

However, the Salentini shot themselves in the foot when Antonino Gallo tried to cushion a cross back to his own goalkeeper with his chest from six yards, but Falcone was not expecting it and fumbled the ball. It was Gallo’s second own goal in 2023 after doing the same against Fiorentina.

Lecce hit back again, Di Lorenzo with a decisive clearance as both Ceesay and Di Francesco tried to meet a low cross from six yards, then Umtiti blasted wide after an Oudin free kick into the wall.

Giovanni Simeone came off the bench, but then pulled up with a flexor issue behind his knee just 17 minutes later. Eljif Elmas stung Falcone’s gloves on a Di Lorenzo cross and in stoppages a series of Lecce corners came to nothing, despite Falcone sprinting up to participate and almost getting caught on the counter before the final whistle.

Lecce 1-2 Napoli

Di Lorenzo 18 (N), Di Francesco 52 (L), Gallo og 64 (N)