DM MONITORING
London: Napoli’s title hopes were dented after it was held to a 1-1 draw by Juventus while a COVID-19 cloud hung ominously over the league.
Dries Mertens opened the scoring in the 23rd minute for Napoli, who performed well in an open game at the Allianz Stadium in Turin but were pegged back eight minutes after halftime when Federico Chiesa’s deflected shot squirmed past David Ospina.
Both players had chances to win the match well saved by Ospina and Juve stopper Wojciech Szczesny but an intense contest eventually petered out into a draw.
Napoli now lags six points behind leader and reigning champions Inter Milan, whose early match at Bologna was the first of four not to take place after the host was banned from playing by local health authorities to keep a COVID-19 cluster at the club under control.
Juve meanwhile missed the chance to put pressure on the fourth-placed Atalanta in the Champions League race, as it sits three points back in fifth having played a game more after the Bergamo outfit’s match with Torino was also shelved.
“We have to look at the game positively, as a point gained,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
