Napoli captain Matteo Politano delivered an assist and the winning goal as his side secured a 2-1 Serie A victory over Lecce on Saturday, keeping their top-four hopes firmly on track.
Antonio Conte’s side were stunned early on at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as Jamil Seibert put Lecce ahead after just three minutes, guiding Antonino Gallo’s cross into the top-right corner.
The visitors – who are battling to avoid relegation this season – nearly doubled their lead soon after, with Lameck Banda seeing a goal-bound effort well blocked by Mathias Olivera.
After Billy Gilmour failed to find the target from an efficient cut-back, Politano came close to equalising as his curling effort drifted just past the far post.
Conte’s changes at the break, including the introductions of the recently returned Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay, helped Napoli regain control.
The hosts levelled immediately after the restart when Politano picked out Rasmus Hojlund for a simple tap-in from close range 50 seconds after the break.
The Dane nearly added a second moments later but sent a close-range header off target, before Walid Cheddira struck the side netting at the other end.
Politano ultimately sealed the result in the 67th minute, meeting De Bruyne’s flicked corner at the back post with a clever volley that rifled past Wladimiro Falcone.
Full time: #NapoliLecce 2-1
#ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/4Nq0lSQ6CI
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) March 14, 2026
Data Debrief: Politano breaks dry spell in style
Politano has now provided five assists in 26 Serie A matches this season, trumping his tally of four from last season.
Prior to Saturday’s result, the Napoli skipper had more shots overall (36) and shots on target (eight) without scoring than any other player in Serie A this season, though he broke that dry spell in some style against Lecce.
And he took part in his 100th Serie A goal (101 in total – 54 goals, 47 assists) as he made an invaluable contribution for Napoli.
His second-half winner means that Napoli are now unbeaten in their first 14 home Serie A matches this season, marking only the second time in the three-points-for-a-win era (since 1994-95) that they have managed the feat, after doing so in 2015-16 under Maurizio Sarri.