NAPLES: 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, their second successive stalemate.

Antonio Conte’s Napoli, who had to settle for a 1-1 draw at AS Roma last week, now have 55 points, four clear of second-placed Inter Milan, who have a game in hand. Udinese are 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.

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.

Napoli dominated for long periods but Udinese held out.

“We must not confuse reality with what we are doing now, which is truly extraordinary. Trust me, it’s extraordinary,” coach Conte told DAZN when asked about his team’s bid for a second title in three seasons.

“The lads left the field drained tonight, they gave everything to get the victory. It was our ninth game unbeaten, so trust me from the heart when I say this is extraordinary.”

Earlier, Lazio crushed last-placed Monza 5-1 in Rome to climb back into the top four.

Adam Marusic nodded the home team in front on 31 minutes and they ran away with the game after half-time.

Pedro scored twice and Taty Castellanos once, before Stefano Sensi converted an 86th-minute penalty for the visitors.

Two minutes later, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru restored Lazio’s four-goal lead.

Roma had a tougher time away to second-bottom Venezia, winning 1-0 with a 57th-minute penalty by Paulo Dybala, a pre-match doubt.

The win lifted Roma to ninth in the table.

Eighth-placed Bologna dropped seven points behind Lazio after a goalless stalemate, their 11th league draw of the season, at Lecce.

Florinel Coman scored on his debut as Cagliari beat another relegation-haunted side Parma 2-1 in Sardinia.

The hosts took the lead when Parma’s Alessandro Vogliacco deflected Michel Adopo’s flick into his own net.

Coman then blasted in a long-range goal to put Cagliari two goals up.

Giovanni Leoni headed a consolation goal for Parma, who stayed third from bottom. Cagliari jumped to 13th, four points clear of their beaten opponents.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2025