Napoli had little trouble getting past Sassuolo to stretch its lead atop the Serie A rankings to 18 points over the chasing pack led by Inter Milan.
The deadly duo of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen was again on target during their 2-0 win away from home for their 20th win in 23 games this season.
As has always been the case this year, it was Napoli who took the early lead after just 12 minutes on the clock. Kvaratskhelia took the ball from the halfway line before dancing past the defenders and firing a shot past Andrea Consigli in what has become a common sight this year.
The 22-year-old Georgian now has 10 goals and nine assists in Serie A after his latest exploits.
Sassuolo responded in kind and were unlucky not to equalise just minutes later when Armand Laurienté’s rattled the right post before Grégoire Defrel shot narrowly wide.
At the other end, Osimhen nearly doubled his side’s lead in the 25th minute before the goalpost denied him as well. The Nigeran did not have to wait long for his 18th goal of the campaign when he outfoxed Consigli with a powerful strike at the near post in the 33rd minute.
VAR denied Sassuolo their first goal before halftime after which the visitors did not let them create any more openings in the second stanza.
The win over Sassuolo practically guarantees Napoli will lift its first Serie A trophy in 33 years.
Inter, the only team to beat Napoli this season, will have to go on a miraculous run to overcome this 18-point gap, which is unlikely given their recent results.
