Napoli 1-2 Juventus: Five talking points | Serie A 2018/19

Juventus raced further clear in the title race after Miralem Pjanic and Emre Can scored to seal a 2-1 win over Napoli in a tempestuous affair.

Once again the visitors were unconvincing yet sailing through the match and held a two-goal cushion at the break. Napoli also saw goalkeeper Alex Meret sent off for his challenge on Ronaldo, but the teams were numerically on level terms when Pjanic too saw red just minutes into the second half.

The Partenopei were now running Juve ragged with wave after wave of attacks. Jose Callejon even halved the deficit just after the hour mark, but Lorenzo Insigne missed a great chance to equalise when he blasted a dubious penalty against the upright.

Regardless of the scoreline, Napoli were head and shoulders above their mighty visitors. They not only held a lion's share of possession but also completed more passes, created better chances and also mustered more shots on target.

And yet, Juventus walk away unscathed, and now enjoy a 16-point lead at the top, all but confirming an eight successive Scudetto. Here are the major talking points from the match:

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#1: Juventus ride their luck again

Despite the win, Juve disappointed with their gameplay

Manager Massimiliano Allegri's side has to be the luckiest team in Europe right now. For despite stinker after stinker, they manage to eke out a win and god forbid, remain unbeaten in the league, even after 26 games!

In this weekend's side, Napoli were the better side from start to finish. The hosts not only started on the front foot but should've been a goal up by the half an hour mark. But a moment of quality from Pjanic and a defensive lapse put Juve 2-0 ahead by half-time.

However, the Partenopei were even better after the break. They pushed Juventus on the back foot by launching an avalanche of attacks and even had the opportunity to secure a point. The visitors were just contented to crowd out the area and form a defensive block that Napoli struggled to find a way past.

Lorenzo Insigne also missed a penalty late on, making it worse for his side.

In the end, Napoli finished the game with 21 shots to Juve's six, 574 passes to Juve's 370 and also 64% possession to Juve's 36.

The Bianconeris may have won the game despite being subjugated for the entirety of the game, it's merely a fortuitous one; nothing to take pride in as they ride their luck again.

#2 Lorenzo Insigne's Jekyll and Hyde

The Italian was Napoli's most creative player, but also guilty of missing two good chances

With only eight goals and five assists in the league in 23 appearances, Insigne has been uncharacteristically below par this season but with a fine performance against Juventus, showed he hasn't really lost his golden touch.

The Italian striker was all guns blazing, taking the game to Juventus with his intelligent movements and brilliant crosses. He made bunnies out of the Bianconeri defence with amazing dribbles, completing four out of six he attempted, the most by any player in the match.

Insigne also laid a further six key passes, in what was a clinical demonstration of his offensive output. However, he came up short on two big occasions.

The 27-year old first blasted his penalty against the post to spurn a crucial chance to equalise, before wasting another opportunity in the final moments when sent through by Ouna.

#3 What's the debate about? Pjanic is Juve's best free-kick taker!

Pjanic must shoulder most of Juve's free-kick duties

Miralem Pjanic has executed some of the most beautiful free-kicks in modern Serie A, and yet there was speculation about who was going to take them after the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo intensified the contest.

But the Bosnian has shown why he should be trusted with the free-kick duties more than anyone. Cristiano Ronaldo was clattered just outside the area by Merek, who was sent off and also conceded a free-kick. Pjanic and Ronaldo both lined up to take it, but the former Roma midfielder took a crack at it and sent a curler whizzing through the Napoli wall and into the far post.

It isn't the first time he's done it, but it was as beautiful as ever; and for the record, that was his 19th goal from a direct free-kick in the Italian top-flight, and an eighth for the Bianconeris.

He has the best record at free-kicks in Serie A since he arrived at the shores back in 2011, and has drawn comparisons with Italian legend Andrea Pirlo, another dead-ball specialist of his time. Pjanic now just reaffirmed why he should be the undisputed free-kick taker of his side, or at least from such good positions.

#4 Koulibaly shows he's more than just a defender

Koulibaly was a reckoning force from the back

Kalidou Koulibaly has long established himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A. He was also central to Napoli's amazing title run last season, even scoring at the Allianz to down Juventus in a crucial game.

Today, he looked inspired to repeat the feat and turned in another stellar show.

The Senegalese star charged out of his line to add an attacking edge from the left flank. He scampered into some good positions to lay off crosses and also connected well with Insigne on various occasions. He won two offensive aerials and also kept a considerable 82% pass success.

Yet, his penchant to drive forward never once saw him caught out at the back. He was always at the right place at the right time to show great positional awareness and didn't leave any gaps for the visitors to exploit.

A true leader from the back.

#5 Serie A 2018/19 done and dusted already

It's just a matter of time now...

No exaggerations there, for it would be unthinkable to see anyone not named Juventus claiming the Scudetto come May. The Bianconeris just extended their lead at the top of the table to a staggering 16 points and barring a monumental collapse, should comfortably wrap up the title by mid-April.

Of course, there are 12 more games to go, but if there's something this season has taught us, then it's merely a reaffirmation that the Old Lady remains untouchable and also that they have been highly fortuitous this season. Despite a series of shambolic performances since the turn of the year, no one has been able to halt this juggernaut (Atalanta's 3-0 win came in the Coppa Italia).

So it's safe to assume that the league is done and dusted already. What's left to witness is who finishes in the Champions League places. And that's the most damning indictment of this league.