Juventus 2 - 1 Napoli: Gonzalo Higuain scores winner against former club Napoli

Posted Sunday, October 30, 2016 by PA

Gonzalo Higuain's second-half winner saw Juventus clinch their 22nd consecutive home win in Serie A with a 2-1 victory over Napoli.

Argentina international Higuain, sold by Napoli to Juve for B£75million in the summer, scored in the 70th minute after visiting striker Jose Callejon had cancelled out Leonardo Bonucci's spectacular volley for the home side early in the second half.

Juve's last Serie A defeat on home soil was on the opening day of the 2015/16 season, against Udinese, but they were pushed all the way by Napoli, who began the day in third place, four points adrift of Massimiliano Allegri's leaders.

Juventus, who bounced back from last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at AC Milan by beating Sampdoria 4-1 in midweek, were not at their fluent best during the first period, in which Napoli enjoyed the lion's share of possession.

But the home side still carved out the better chances. Stephan Lichsteiner blazed his shot from inside the penalty area over the crossbar and Higuain was denied by Vlad Chiriches' brilliant last-ditch tackle when poised to shoot from in front of goal in the 24th minute.

Napoli, who kicked off four points behind Juve in third place following their midweek win over Empoli, fell behind to Bonucci's thumping finish five minutes into the second half.

When Napoli made a mess of clearing a corner, the ball spun back into the path of Bonucci and the Italy international lashed home his first goal of the season in spectacular fashion beyond a motionless Pepe Reina.

Maurizio Sarri's side, who had won their previous two league games, were not behind for long. Lorenzo Insigne's fine ball over the top caught the Juve defence flat-footed and Spaniard Callejon showed fine composure to side-foot the ball underneath Gianluigi Buffon for his seventh goal of the season.

Juve midfielder Hernanes blazed a shot off target when well-placed on the edge of the box, but the home side regained the lead in the 70th minute when Higuain latched on to a rebound just inside the area and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.

It was his first goal against his former club since Juve triggered his release clause in his Napoli contract in July and his eighth of the season, while his celebrations were respectfully muted.

Napoli almost responded with another quick equaliser, but Dries Mertens' shot from the edge of the area was just off target.

Higuain threatened again with a header in the 82nd minute and Juve were content to see out the remainder of the match, restricting Napoli to long-range efforts from Amadou Diawara and Piotr Zielinski.