File photo of Napoli© AFP
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck a wonder goal to fire ailing Serie A champions Napoli to a morale-boosting 2-1 win over struggling Verona on Sunday. Georgian star Kvaratskhelia curled home a long-range finish with three minutes remaining at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to snatch victory and move Napoli to within one point of Italy’s Champions League positions. Walter Mazzarri’s side are seventh on 35 points but could see the gap between them and fourth-placed Atalanta increase after their home clash with Lazio later on Sunday. Cyril Ngonge set Napoli on the way to victory with 11 minutes remaining when he levelled Diego Coppola’s opener with his first goal for the southern club since signing from Verona last month.
Napoli are firmly in the fight for Champions League football but the top four wasn’t their target after their stunning Scudetto triumph last season.
Their title defence was over well before the turn of the year and Napoli are 19 points behind league leaders Inter Milan who host Juventus in the weekend’s big game on Sunday night.
Earlier Salernitana ended a four-match losing streak with a goalless draw at Torino on Jerome Boateng’s debut for Serie A’s bottom club.
Former Germany defender Boateng signed for Salernitana as a free agent on Friday after being released by Lyon in June.
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