Dybala scores brace as Juve, Napoli pull clear

Paulo Dybala scored a brace as champions Juventus won 3-1 at Verona to keep pace with Napoli as Serie A’s leading duo pulled clear of pursuing Inter Milan, Roma and Lazio on Saturday night.Napoli had won 1-0 at Crotone on Friday to secure the symbolic title of winter champions as they top the table halfway through the season with 48 points from 19 games, one more than six-time defending champions Juventus. But behind them Inter, Roma and Lazio all failed to win. Blaise Matuidi had put Juventus ahead after just six minutes but it took Dybala to unlock the victory after the hosts hit back through former Juventus player Martin Caceres on 59 minutes. Dybala pulled the Turin giants level on 72 minutes and five minutes later sealed the win — both goals with his weaker right foot — to give him 14 league goals for the campaign.“We all know it was not a good performance,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri. “We put the victory at risk after a strong start, because we slowed down, made far too many mistakes, lost the ball repeatedly, and we need to improve on that.”Allegri said Dybala should avoid worrying about comparisons with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo if he wants to become the best player in the world.The 24-year-old Argentine — linked with a possible move to Manchester United — has not hit the heights of last season despite scoring 14 goals in 19 Serie A games including a double on Saturday.Dybala had been on the bench in the previous three games but started on Saturday and ensured the six-time defending Serie A champions won for the first time in Verona since 2001. “It’s important that Paulo found the net again,” said Allegri. “After the goal, he started to play better, as he was in a delicate moment where things weren’t quite going his way. Psychology is everything in football and confidence is key. You have to be focused and determined. I think the only advice for Paulo is to think just about his football and his journey, not worrying about comparisons with players like Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.“In the next three years he will be, together with Neymar, the most important player in the world. Today there are Messi and Ronaldo and it is difficult, but his path is that he has to improve physically, technically and mentally.”Third-placed Inter are seven points off the top after they were held to a goalless draw by Lazio at San Siro, as Roma, in fourth, drew 1-1 against Sassuolo in the capital. Inter’s draw saw them end a run of three straight defeats in all competitions, but after a storming start to the season Luciano Spalletti’s side have taken just two points in four games.Despite being dangerous in the first half, with Ivan Perisic denied by a stunning Thomas Strakosha save and a Borja Valero header hitting the post, Inter could not find a way past fifth-placed Lazio.“When you lose two or three games and go out of the Coppa Italia, it’s natural that those who wish you ill or hope that you’ll go back to old ways of previous years will come out of the woodwork,” said Spalletti.“I’m not an optimist as such, but I know that if you’re pessimistic, then you won’t get the result. I try to give my players confidence in themselves. We have 41 points and I’d be more than happy to notch up 41 in the second half of the season too.”Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini scored against his old club Sassuolo just after the half-hour only for Simone Missiroli to level after 78 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico. AC Milan remain in 11th — 23 points behind Napoli — despite a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina secured thanks to a Hakan Calhanoglu equaliser.