Serie A | Napoli 2-1 Lecce: Politano ends drought for third straight victory

Matteo Politano ended his goal drought after 43 games, as Napoli fought back to beat Lecce 2-1 on the return of Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne to the Stadio Maradona.

The Partenopei regained their confidence with back-to-back 2-1 wins over Verona and Torino. A significant boost was Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa’s first start since November, although Antonio Vergara and Juan Jesus joined Stanislav Lobotka, David Neres, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Amir Rrahmani on the treatment table. Scott McTominay returned to the bench after a month out. Lecce clambered out of the bottom four with a victory over Cremonese, and had Omri Gandelman back after a knee problem, but missed Medon Berisha, Francesco Camarda and Kialonda Gaspar.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was a very aggressive start from the visitors, who took the lead on their second Antonino Gallo corner of the game, as Jamil Siebert was allowed a free header from six yards at the back post after just two minutes and 20 seconds.

They very nearly conceded an identical second, as this time Tiago Gabriel nodded a Gallo corner over from five yards after the Lameck Banda shot had been deflected off target.

Billy Gilmour prodded inches wide from 12 yards on an Alisson Santos pull-back, while Gallo was decisive to intercept an Alisson cross for Matteo Politano and Rasmus Hojlund couldn’t quite get on the end of a cross from six yards.

Alex Meret got down to parry a Nikola Stulic strike at the base of the near post, while Politano’s screamer only hit the side-netting.

Antonio Conte pulled out the big guns for the restart, introducing McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne, and it paid off within 60 seconds.

Gilmour’s inspired pass sent Politano down the right, he pulled back from the by-line and Hojlund was ready to tap in from six yards.

Tiago Gabriel failed to make the most of slack marking on a free kick moments later, as Walid Cheddira only hit the side-netting against his parent club and Alisson Santos sent through by De Bruyne forced a desperate Wladimiro Falcone save with an outstretched leg.

Napoli turned the game around completely when De Bruyne’s corner was flicked on to the back post for the precise Politano volley. It was his first goal in almost a full calendar year, ending a drought of 43 competitive games.

De Bruyne also sent Alisson Santos through to drill inches wide of the near post, while Siebert did just enough to stop Hojlund getting a shot away from a dangerous position.

There was a hushed silence in the Stadio Maradona when Lameck Banda was struggling to breathe after being winded, but he was stretchered off after a few minutes for treatment. Lecce had completed their substitutions, so played stoppages with only 10 men.

Napoli 2-1 Lecce

Siebert 3 (L), Hojlund 46 (N), Politano 67 (N)