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Napoli held by Como as Spalletti begins Juve adventure / Photo: Alberto PIZZOLI - AFP
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Napoli held by Como as Spalletti begins Juve adventure
Napoli were held to a goalless draw by Como in Serie A on Saturday as Luciano Spalletti began his time in the Juventus dugout at Cremonese.
Champions Napoli are one point ahead of closest rivals Roma, who can snatch top spot with a win at AC Milan on Sunday night.
For the second time in as many matches goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved Napoli's blushes by saving a penalty, this time stopping Alvaro Morata from netting his first goal for Como after bringing down the Spain forward midway through the first half.
That was by far the best opportunity of a cagey, intense contest in Naples which has given Napoli's rivals the chance to apply more pressure in the battle for the Scudetto.
Milan are four points from the summit ahead of their headline clash with Roma at the San Siro, as are third-placed Inter Milan who play at lowly Verona in Sunday's early fixture.
"It was a very even match, and good to watch because it was played with a bit of edge, we pressed them high and they did the same to us," said Conte.
"It was a European-style match where neither team sat back in their own area and waited for a counter-attack. Both teams were brave."
Napoli now turn their attention to the visit of Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday night, with Antonio Conte's team on just three points from their three Champions League matches following a thumping at PSV Eindhoven last month.
Como sit fifth in Serie A, a point behind the Milan clubs, after extending their unbeaten league run to eight matches.
The tiny club, backed by tobacco giant Djarum, showed an ease on the big stage that has been typical of Cesc Fabregas' tenure as coach.
- 'You have to win' -
And Fabregas was bullish after the match, saying that his team played well enough to beat the Napoli on their own patch.
"I'm pleased up to a certain point, when you play that well you have to win. But we've taken another step forward, playing against the champions and a really good team," he said.
"I haven't seen any team go and press Napoli like we did, and above all at the Maradona. I know age doesn't matter but that team has three 20-year-olds, two 21-year-olds, and one 22-year-old.
"I don't see many teams in Europe doing that... That makes coming here and playing the way we did for 75 minutes of the match so impressive."
Former Napoli hero Spalletti will begin his reign at Juve when he takes charge of the Turin giants at Cremonese, with just one point and two league places separating the two teams.
Spalletti was unveiled as seventh-placed Juve's new man on Thursday following the sacking on Monday of Igor Tudor, the 66-year-old former Italy coach signing a contract until the end of the season.
Juve trail Napoli by seven points ahead of the clash at the Stadio Giovanni Zini, where Jamie Vardy is hunting his second Serie A goal after opening his account against Atalanta a week ago.
Atalanta's unbeaten record fell at Udinese in the day's early kick-off, Nicolo Zaniolo netting the winner five minutes before half-time for his third goal in four matches.
Ivan Juric's team haven't won in six league fixtures and sit 11th, five points from the Champions League positions.
(P.Davis--TAG)
