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Travelling Napoli supporters pictured at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

Napoli stun champions Juventus with 90th minute winner to keep Scudetto dream alive

A late winner at the Allianz Stadium means Napoli trail the defending champions by just a single point with four games to go.

NAPOLI KEPT THEIR Serie A title hopes alive in the most dramatic fashion in Turin on Sunday, Kalidou Koulibaly powering home a match-winning header in stoppage time against Juventus to move his side within one point of the Bianconeri.

It looked as though Juve were going to preserve their four-point advantage at the summit with four games to play and edge closer to a seventh successive Scudetto only for Koulibaly to throw the race wide open.

Compounding Juveโ€™s last-gasp defeat is the fact Massimiliano Allegriโ€™s men arguably have the tougher run-in of the two sides, with the Derby dโ€™Italia away to Inter coming up next Saturday, and a clash with Champions League semi-finalists Roma awaiting in the penultimate round of fixtures.

Napoli, meanwhile, seeking to win a first Scudetto since 1989-90, when they were inspired to a second title in four seasons by the great Diego Maradona, visit Fiorentina next weekend hopeful of seizing on any further slip-ups from the leaders.

FBL-ITA-SERIE A-JUVENTUS-NAPOLI Napoli players celebrate their late winner. AFP / Getty Images AFP / Getty Images / Getty Images

Napoli enjoyed an early sight of goal when Lorenzo Insigne fired wide in the first minute, and the passage of play proved costly for Juventus, as Giorgio Chiellini sustained an injury that ultimately forced him off 10 minutes later, having failed to convince in his attempts to shake off what appeared to be a muscle problem.

With full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner introduced and Benedikt Howedes shifting to centre-back, Juve went close for the first time in the 17th minute, Miralem Pjanicโ€™s deflected free-kick wrongfooting Pepe Reina and striking the far post, leaving the Napoli goalkeeper stranded.

His counterpart Gianluigi Buffon had to be alert to tip over a dipping cross-cum-shot from Mario Rui, who then slid in Marek Hamsik for the best chance of the first half in the 24th minute, only for the Napoli captain to drag his attempt across the face of goal and wide.

Insigne had the ball in the back of the net seven minutes before half-time, but Lichtsteiner smartly stepped up to catch his opponent offside.

Juventus v SSC Napoli - Serie A Massimiliano Ferraro Massimiliano Ferraro

Allegri responded to his teamโ€™s underwhelming first-half showing by withdrawing Paulo Dybala in favour of Juan Cuadrado, while Maurizio Sarri introduced the fit-again and in-form Arkadiusz Milik a minute past the hour mark, taking off the relatively ineffectual Dries Mertens.

Substitute Piotr Zielinski tested Buffon from long range with seven minutes to go in what had been a tense second half, and the goalkeeper also had to claw away an awkward Jose Callejon delivery.

From the Spaniardโ€™s subsequent corner, Napoli grabbed the all-important goal, Koulibaly rising above the Juve backline to head home a powerful winner, the final whistle sparking wild celebrations among the visitors and ensuring a thrilling conclusion to the title race.

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    Mute Anthony
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    May 19th 2015, 8:16 PM

    Charlie Adam all day long. I thought Mataโ€™s scissors kick was worthy of a nomination though.

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    Mute Jon Walters
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    May 19th 2015, 8:22 PM

    Charlie Austinโ€™s would be in my top 5 and its not even here. That one touch turn and strike was sweet

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    Mute Darragh Martin
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    May 19th 2015, 8:44 PM

    Yeah Charlie Austinโ€™s was a class goal,definitely should be there. Charlie Adamโ€™s for goal of the season though.

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    Mute Jon Walters
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    May 19th 2015, 8:58 PM

    Ya maybe your right but the fact that he always tries it and itโ€™s not off the cuff just makes it less special I feel. Austinโ€™s, for example, was sheer instinct.

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    Mute Unknown
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    May 19th 2015, 8:05 PM

    Search on youtube โ€œDi Maria Manchester Unitedโ€ some of his crosses and assists there are amazing. He fully deserves another chance to prove his worth at United!

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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    May 19th 2015, 9:14 PM

    Definitely. His form dipped when he returned from injury. Happens to a lot of players. Even though his form dipped, only cesc has more assists than him. Makes me wonder what might have been had he avoided the injury.

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    Mute Robert O Farrell
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    May 19th 2015, 8:14 PM

    Itโ€™s got to be Charlie Adam. Although Phillips is in with a shout. If a top player scored that weโ€™d still be talking about it โ€“ you donโ€™t often see 45 yard screamers- it wasnโ€™t a looping shot but a belter from that distance rising all the way.

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    Mute Dan Smith
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    May 19th 2015, 9:13 PM

    If public polls are anything to go by, Giroud will win this poll by a mile :P

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    Mute baz newham
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    May 19th 2015, 9:59 PM

    Lads Matty Philips was over 40 yards out!! No contest.

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    Mute Ross Ryan
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    May 19th 2015, 11:25 PM

    Thought longs goal against villa would have been in the top 10

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    Mute Barry Smyth
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    May 19th 2015, 11:17 PM

    Love Zamoraโ€™s one. Outside of the boot, quality

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    May 19th 2015, 10:27 PM

    Schurrle overhead ? Hard to do it at the best of times but he had to set this one up himself by taking it on the chest first . That would be my choice

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    Mute lee
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    May 19th 2015, 8:18 PM

    Fabregas vs Burnley should atleast be nominated surely??

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