Glik winner halts Napoli charge in Serie A
A second-half header from defender Kamil Glik halted Napoli's charge towards second spot in Serie A as Torino ended their recent barren spell against the Partenopei to go eighth on Sunday. Napoli's hopes for a second-place finish and an automatic Champions League qualifying spot were given a huge boost recently after Roma were held six times in seven league games to slip to nine points behind leaders Juventus. Rafael Benitez's men had the chance to pull level on points with Rudi Garcia's misfiring side. But the visitors, who welcomed Gonzalo Higuain back to the starting line-up following the Argentinian striker's one-match suspension, were left lamenting missed opportunities after Glik was allowed to run in unmarked to break the deadlock with a powerful header from a corner in the 68th minute. Torino had lost their past four league games against Napoli, but Giampiero Ventura's men -- who ousted Athletic Bilbao in midweek to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League -- held on to claim their first win against Napoli under Ventura's helm. "It's one of the best weeks I've had since joining Torino," said Polish international Glik, who has now scored six league goals this season. "We're going through a really positive spell, and mentally we're in the right place. Let's hope we can keep it going. "It doesn't take a lot to keep you in contention for Europe, but we have to keep our feet on the ground." Napoli, who are also into the Europa last 16 after a 5-0 aggregate victory over Trabzonspor, remain in third place but are still three points behind Roma ahead of Monday's top-of-the-table clash at the Stadio Olimpico, which could see Juventus pull 12 points clear. Benitez was furious at the end of the game, especially after the referee failed to award a penalty for an unintentional handball by Torino defender Emiliano Moretti. "There were certain aspects of our game I just didn't appreciate," Benitez told Sky Sport. Asked about the penalty decision, he added: "I'm tired of seeing these kinds of things." While Napoli slipped up, chasers Lazio, Fiorentina and Sampdoria won their respective games to boost their hopes of European football next season. Felipe Anderson hit a first-half wonder strike and set up Miroslav Klose for Lazio's second in a 3-0 win over Sassuolo as the Biancocelesti closed to within two points of Napoli. Coach Stefano Pioli paid tribute to his ambitious side: "I'm fortunate to be coaching a squad that is committed and attentive. I want to steer this side into port, we'll see where we end up at the end of the season." - Salah fires Viola - On-loan Chelsea forward Mohamed Salah came off the bench to hit his third goal in four league games as nine-man Fiorentina ended Inter Milan's three-game winning run with a 1-0 success at the San Siro. Fiorentina, unbeaten in 11 competitive matches, travelled to Milan in confident mood having knocked Tottenham out of the Europa League on Thursday when Salah scored in a 2-0 win in Florence. And La Viola, forced to finish the game with nine men when Nenad Tomovic and Stefan Savic limped off after all three substitutes had been used, extended their run to move to within three points of Napoli. Inter's setback left them in eighth, 22 points behind Juventus and left Roberto Mancini lamenting missed chances. "We know how good a side they are but we were far too generous to them right up till the end," said Mancini. Luis Muriel and Stefano Okaka hit second-half goals as Sampdoria ended a five-game winless streak at Atalanta. Palermo failed to score in a league game for only the second time this season after being held to a scoreless draw by Empoli. Parma's trip to Genoa was postponed as the visitors, whose game against Udinese last week was also called off, continue to suffer from the financial struggles that could see the club's future decided by a bankruptcy hearing later this month.
