Napoli secured their position at the top of Serie A with a narrow 1-0 win over Empoli on Sunday, moving three points clear of Juventus.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute, marking his fourth goal of the season and ensuring Napoli’s fourth consecutive victory across all competitions.
This hard-fought win guarantees that Napoli will remain at the summit for at least another week, although Inter Milan has the opportunity to close the gap to just two points if they triumph over troubled Roma in the late fixture.
Empoli had a strong record against Napoli last season, defeating them both home and away. Notably, their victory in Naples last November led to the dismissal of former coach Rudi Garcia, as the team struggled to defend their league title and finished in 10th place.
Despite the historical rivalry, it was Napoli who came away with the points on Sunday, although Empoli put in a spirited performance and were arguably the better side for significant portions of the match. Remarkably, Kvaratskhelia’s penalty was Napoli’s only shot on target in a game played in front of thousands of passionate travelling fans.
Without European commitments following their disappointing title defence last season, Napoli, under the management of Antonio Conte, has quickly re-emerged as a strong contender for the Serie A title. This scheduling advantage allows them to focus entirely on domestic challenges.
Kvaratskhelia has been key to Conte’s plans, but negotiations for a contract extension have stalled. His current deal runs until 2027, but reports indicate he is seeking a salary of eight million euros ($8.7 million) per season, a figure significantly higher than what Napoli is prepared to offer for their star winger, who played a crucial role in their historic title win in 2023.