Como’s Nicolas Paz fights for the ball with Napoli’s Matteo Politano during the Italian Serie A match at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples. PHOTO: AFP <\/p>\n
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Luciano Spalletti got off to a winning start in charge of Juventus on Saturday as his new team beat Cremonese and their goalscorer Jamie Vardy 2-1.<\/p>\n
Serie A leaders Napoli though could only manage a goalless draw with Como.<\/p>\n
Birthday boy Filip Kostic took just 84 seconds to score the first goal of the Spalletti era, and another close-range finish from Andrea Cambiaso in the 68th minute made sure dominant Juve moved fifth, four points behind Napoli.<\/p>\n
Juve started Saturday’s match just one point above spirited Cremonese, who showed why they sit ninth after being promoted last season.<\/p>\n
Former England international Vardy halved the deficit in the 83rd minute when he held off Federico Gatti before bursting through and confidently rolling home his second Serie A goal.<\/p>\n
“We did well for a good chunk of the first half, then we started to concede too much, and it was the same at the start of the second half… there’s a bit to work on,” Spalletti told Sky Sport.<\/p>\n
“We need to grow, and quickly. We have potential and I trust the players, but the pressure of playing for Juventus can weigh on the players… Some of them struggle with it, but we can work on that.”<\/p>\n
Spalletti was unveiled as Juve’s new man on Thursday following the sacking of Igor Tudor, the 66-year-old signing a contract until the end of the season.<\/p>\n
He comes back into the club game after a nightmare spell in charge of the Italian national team which ended in June after a disastrous title defence at Euro 2024 and a thumping at the hands of Norway in the opening match of the Azzurri’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.<\/p>\n
But Spalletti showed some of his old taste for the unusual by starting Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners in defence, a move that largely worked with three centre-backs including Gleison Bremer out of action.<\/p>\n
Juve host Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday as they try for their first win in this season’s Champions League, with Spalletti’s team on two points from three rounds of matches.<\/p>\n
Napoli held<\/strong><\/p>\n For the second time in as many matches goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved Napoli’s blushes by keeping out 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Roma trail Napoli by a point and can move top with a win on Sunday night at AC Milan who are, alongside Juve and third-placed Inter Milan, four points from the summit.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Napoli now turn their attention to the visit of Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday night, with Antonio Conte’s team on three points from their three Champions League matches following a thumping at PSV Eindhoven last month.<\/p>\n Como sit sixth in Serie A, a point behind Juve and the Milan clubs, after extending their unbeaten league run to eight matches.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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,” said Fabregas.<\/p>\n Atalanta’s unbeaten record fell with a 1-0 defeat at Udinese in the day’s early kick-off, Nicolo Zaniolo netting the winner five minutes before half-time.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Como’s Nicolas Paz fights for the ball with Napoli’s Matteo Politano during the Italian Serie A match at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples. PHOTO: AFP MILAN: Luciano Spalletti got off to a winning start in charge of Juventus on Saturday as his new team beat Cremonese and their goalscorer Jamie Vardy 2-1. 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