Napoli Defeats Lecce 1-0 As Raspadori's Free-Kick Increases Pressure On Inter

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Napoli secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Lecce, intensifying the pressure on Serie A rivals Inter. Giacomo Raspadori's stunning free-kick in the 24th minute at Stadio Ettore Giardiniero was decisive. The win allowed Napoli to extend their lead to six points before Inter's match against Hellas Verona. Despite Lecce's efforts, Napoli maintained their defensive solidity to achieve a fourth consecutive league win.

Napoli's defence was pivotal, limiting Lecce to just one shot on target and an expected goals figure of only 0.31. Although Napoli's attack wasn't particularly prolific, with an xG of 0.58, Raspadori's brilliance ensured victory. Earlier, Romelu Lukaku had a goal disallowed for offside, and the match paused due to flares thrown onto the pitch.

Lecce fought hard for an equaliser, with Kialonda Gaspar hitting the crossbar and Thorir Helgason forcing a fine save from Alex Meret. Napoli also survived a VAR check for a potential handball penalty. Despite these challenges, they held firm to secure their fourth straight clean sheet in league matches.

This victory marked the second time Napoli achieved four consecutive clean-sheet wins in Serie A history. They previously accomplished this during their title-winning campaign in 2022-23 under Luciano Spalletti. Their current run highlights their defensive strength and consistency.

The team's ability to maintain clean sheets has been instrumental in their recent success. This defensive resilience has been crucial as they continue to challenge for top honours in Serie A.