European roundup: Napoli march on to bring Serie A title dream a step closer
Goals from Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Victor Osimhen handed Napoli a 2-0 win at Salernitana 2-0 as they took another step closer to ending their 33 year-wait for a Serie A title.
Napoli controlled much of the game and Victor Osimhen thought he had given them a 35th-minute lead but was ruled offside by VAR.
The league leaders eventually went ahead during the first-half stoppage time when a cross fell to Giovanni Di Lorenzo who fired home. An unmarked Osimhen doubled the lead in the 48th minute when he tapped in a rebound after Eljif Elmas’ effort had come back off a post.
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The result means Napoli have won 16 of their 19 league games and stretched their advantage over second-place AC Milan, who play Lazio on Tuesday, to 12 points.
Goals either side of half-time from Fabio Depaoli and Darko Lazovic helped Verona secure only their third league win of the season, a 2-0 home success over Lecce.
Antoine Griezmann grabbed a goal and an assist as Atlético Madrid returned to winning ways with a 3-0 home victory over Real Valladolid in La Liga.
First-half goals from Griezmann, Álvaro Morata and Mario Hermoso earned fourth-placed Atlético just their second win in their last seven league games, while a fifth straight defeat for Valladolid leaves them one point above the relegation zone in 17th.
Diego Simeone’s side seized control of the game by scoring three quickfire goals in the first half. Griezmann set up Morata for the first in the 18th minute with a clever flick, before getting on the scoresheet himself with a delightfully improvised backheel.
Antoine Griezmann runs away after doubling Atlético’s lead with a superb backheel finish. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images
The Frenchman was heavily involved in the third as well, finding Hermoso with a free-kick. Hermoso’s header was denied by Valladolid goalkeeper Jordi Masip but the rebound fell back at his feet to make it 3-0 in the 28th minute.
Real Sociedad are seven points and a place above Atlético, level on points with second-placed Real Madrid but having played two games more, after a 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano. Alexander Sørloth and Ander Barrenetxea scored the goals.
Martin Braithwaite scored the only goal just before half-time as Espanyol edged out Real Betis at home.
In Germany, Wolfsburg crushed visitors Freiburg 6-0 with three goals in each half as the Bundesliga restarted after a two-month World Cup and winter break.
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Jonas Wind struck twice following Patrick Wimmer’s second-minute opener, with Yannick Gerhardt adding another early in the second half to seal their fifth straight league victory. Baku Ridle rattled in another in the 80th minute before a stoppage time Luca Waldschmidt penalty completed the demolition job.
The win lifted Wolfsburg to sixth on 26 points while Freiburg, who had won four of their previous five Bundesliga matches, dropped to fourth place on 30. It was also Freiburg’s heaviest league loss since coach Christian Streich took over 11 years ago.
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Eintracht Frankfurt moved into second place on goal difference after goals from Jesper Lindstrom, Rafael Borre and Buta earned them a 3-0 over bottom club Schalke. Bayern Munich lead the standings on 35 points after drawing 1-1 at RB Leipzig on Friday with Union Berlin third after they came from behind to win 3-1 against Hoffenheim thanks to a second half double from Danilho Doekhi.
Cologne scored five goals inside the opening 36 minutes as they thrashed Werder Bremen 7-1 at home. Steffen Tigges was on target twice with Linton Maina, Ellyes Skhiri and Denis Huseinbasic also finding the net before Niclas Fullkrug pulled one back for Bremen before half-time. Skhiri made it 6-1 after the interval before a Marco Friedl own goal completed Bremen’s misery.
Philipp Hofmann scored twice as Bochum moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a 3-1 home win over fellow strugglers Hertha Berlin.