Napoli 1-0 Juventus: 5 talking points as defending champions suffer a debilitating defeat | Serie A 2020-21 

#3 Inspired Alex Meret thwarts Juventus

Alex Meret had an inspired performance against Juventus.

Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso elected to start regular first-choice David Ospina on the bench for the visit of Juventus. In his place, Alex Meret manned the post, and this proved to be an inspired decision by the World Cup winner.

The 23-year-old put up an inspired performance between the sticks to ensure that Juventus left Naples empty-handed.

Alex Meret made six saves in the game, with the pick of the bunch coming in the 86th minute when he kept out Alvaro Morata from close range.

⏱ 86 | Meret saves Morata's close-range finish#NapoliJuve 1-0💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) February 13, 2021

A late surge by the visitors saw them fashion several chances in the final minutes, but they found an immovable object in Alex Meret.

With Ospina not impressing in recent weeks, his deputy sent a strong statement of intent to his manager over his readiness to reclaim a starting place.

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#2 Napoli register consecutive league victories over Juventus for the first time in a decade

Napoli avenged their Super Cup defeat against Juventus.

Napoli and Juventus have a long-standing rivalry which stems from political and cultural differences.

Games between the two sides are always fraught with emotion and passion, with more than just three points and league position at stake. Recent results between the sides have been fairly even, although Juventus avenged their Coppa Italia loss against Napoli last season with a victory in the Super Coppa Italia this campaign.

⏱ 90+6 | GAME OVER! ⏹#NapoliJuve 1-0💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/oaPxE2eF33

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) February 13, 2021

The two sides' most recent league meeting had initially ended in a 3-0 forfeit victory for the Turin side. But Napoli's successful appeal means that the game will now be replayed at a later date.

The win at the San Paulo tonight, coupled with their 2-1 victory in January 2020, means that Napoli have now recorded consecutive Serie A wins over Juventus for the first time since 2011. It also saw them avenge their 2-0 defeat in the Super Cup against the Bianconeri last month.

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#1 Quiet Cristiano Ronaldo shackled by brilliant Napoli defence

Cristiano Ronaldo had an underwhelming outing against Napoli.

Cristiano Ronaldo has spearheaded Juventus' recent positive run of form, scoring 23 goals from 25 games in all competitions as he also lead the Capocannoniere race.

Juventus will have been counting on their Portuguese talisman to make a difference in Naples. But the hosts' resolute defending ensured that the 36-year-old did not have a direct impact on the game.

The Madeira native struggled to create space for himself, with his sole chance coming midway through the second half when \poor control saw him squander his shot off target.

Chances also fell his way from promising free kicks, but Cristiano Ronaldo failed to make the most of them.

Keeping the former Real Madrid man quiet is no mean feat, considering the form he is in at the moment. But Napoli's defence deserves immense credit.