Napoli Beat Fiorentina to Claim Top Spot in Serie A Amid Rivals' Absence

According to DAZN, Cristian Stellini, assistant to Conte, expressed pride in their team's accomplishments thus far: "We couldn't be happier with our performance this season. To have 44 points after just 19 matches is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players. At the start of the season, we never would have imagined being where we are now."

However Napoli have played a game more than Atalanta and two more than reigning champions Inter Milan, with that pair missing league action this weekend due to the Super Cup.

Inter, who trail Napoli by four points, will face local rivals AC Milan in the Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia on Monday after beating Atalanta in the semis.

Atalanta will play their match from this round of fixtures when they host Juventus on January 14, with Bologna visiting Inter the following day.

Fiorentina are sixth and 12 points off the title pace after a third defeat in four matches.

The hosts were angered by Moise Kean having a fine goal ruled out for handball moments after Neres slalomed through the Fiorentina defence and slammed his finish past David de Gea.

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Neres started in an unusual Napoli front three which also featured full-back Leonardo Spinazzola due to injuries to Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

"They deserved to win, they were far more clinical than us and punished us for every little mistake," said Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino.

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Earlier Venezia stayed second-from-bottom after being held to a 1-1 home draw by Empoli, while 10-man Verona held Udinese to a goalless draw and pulled five points away from the relegation zone.

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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