Serie A round-up: Napoli extend gap in second

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Two goals from Arkadiusz Milik helped Napoli move six points clear in second place with a 4-0 win over Frosinone in Serie A on Saturday.

Carlo Ancelotti's side took advantage of third-placed Inter's defeat at Juventus on Friday by extending their lead over the Nerazzurri, although they are eight points off the pace set by the champions.

The Napoli coach picked a heavily rotated side with one eye on their crucial Champions League game at Liverpool on Tuesday, but Piotr Zielinski and Adam Ounas struck before the break and a second half Milik brace sealed a comfortable win.

Adam Ounas and Piotr Zielinski of SSC Napoli celebrate the 2-0 goal scored by Adam Ounas during the Serie A match between Napoli and Frosinone at Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy, December 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Napoli needed just seven minutes to take the lead as Zielinski fired a shot into the bottom corner after a period of pressure from the home side.

Shortly before the interval, they doubled their advantage in style when Ounas struck a powerful shot into the top corner from almost 30 meters.

The result was beyond doubt midway through the second half when Milik rose at the front post to nod in a corner, before he tapped in from a cross-shot with five minutes remaining.

The Polish striker took his seasonal tally to seven league goals, already a record for him in a single Serie A season, while Faouzi Ghoulam marked his return after more than a year out injured with two assists.

Arkadiusz Milik of Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Frosinone Calcio at Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy, December 8, 2018 /VCG Photo

Napoli have 35 points from 15 games, while Frosinone remain second-bottom on eight points.

Napoli now turn their focus to Liverpool who showed their form with Mohamed Salah scoring a hat-trick in Saturday's 4-0 Premier League win away to Bournemouth.

"Hopefully he (Salah) got them all out of his system today and will run dry next week," smiled Ancelotti.

"We can start thinking about Liverpool now, but we must try to be calm and focused.

Nopoli's coach Carlo Ancelotti guides players during the Serie A match between Napoli and Frosinone at Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy, December 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

"We are in form and some players have rested today, so we arrive in the best condition.

"It's essential to have a positive approach, to try and take the initiative, also because we don't know how to play any other way.

"We can't think of defending and that's it. We are not suited to parking the bus and this wouldn't be the right game to do that either."

Ancelotti added: "I have fond memories of Anfield, as I won the Premier League there with Chelsea.

"It's a fantastic stadium and an honor for us to play there. It has a unique atmosphere – apart from San Paolo, of course."

Roma Collapse

But amid chaos in Sardinia, Roma, who had led with first half goals from Bryan Cristante and Aleksandar Kolarov, were caught in the last 10 minutes with two late goals from Cagliari.

"I'm really angry and upset at this draw, because it's just absurd.

"You can't let it happen, conceding an equalizer against nine men in stoppages," said under-pressure Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco.

Former Roma player Francesco Tottil watches the Serie A match between Cagliari and AS Roma on the stands of Sardegna Arenain, Cagliari, Italy, December 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Roma are already through to the Champions League last 16 before next week's game against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic.

But they have a long injury list with captain Daniele De Rossi sidelined along with Edin Dzeko, Stephan El Shaarawy and Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Cristante opened after 14 minutes off a Justin Kluivert cross, as Kolarov got the second five minutes before the break off a free kick which took a big deflection off Alberto Cerri.

But the hosts broke through late when Joao Pedro nodded a corner on to Artur Ionita who blasted into the Roma goal four minutes from time. Roma were still ahead going into injury time when Luca Ceppitelli and Darijo Srna sent off for arguing with the referee, and Cagliari coach Roberto Maran also banished.

Referee shows yellow card to Luca Ceppitelli of Cagliari during the Serie A match between Cagliari and AS Roma at Sardegna Arenain, Cagliari, Italy, December 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Marco Sau nevertheless completed the hosts' comeback off an Ionita cross five minutes into injury time to maintain Cagliari's unbeaten home record.

The Sardinians are currently in 13th position. Di Francesco's Roma, who were third last season, remain seventh, 22 points behind leaders Juventus.

For another 2-2 draw made by Lazio and Sampdoria, and during the 10-minute stoppage time, Bartosz Bereszynski of Sampdoria got his second yellow card and the two teams score the second goal for each team respectively.

Riccardo Saponara of Sampdoria scores his goal for 2-2 at the 99th minute during the Serie A match between Lazio and Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy, December 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Finally, Riccardo Saponara of Sampdoria scored his goal at the last minute and saved one point for the visitors.

On Sunday, there will be six matches including AC Milan vs. Torino.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters