Day: May 7, 2025

Napoli tightened their grip on the Serie A title race with a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Lecce. It was powered by a first-half free-kick from Giacomo Raspadori. The win marked Napoli’s fourth consecutive clean sheet and temporarily stretched their lead at the top to six points.

Antonio Conte’s side entered the clash in formidable form and they nearly struck early. Romelu Lukaku smartly redirected a low shot from Matteo Politano into the net in the second minute. However, the goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR check.

Lecce’s reprieve was short-lived. Just past the 20-minute mark, Raspadori earned a free-kick on the edge of the box and converted it himself with a thunderous finish.

Lecce came close to an equalizer before halftime when Kialonga Gaspar met a corner with a powerful header that smacked against the crossbar. Despite a brief spell of pressure from the hosts, Napoli nearly doubled their advantage before the break, but Raspadori dragged his effort wide after being set up by Scott McTominay.

The second half saw Lecce improve after a double substitution, with Porir Johann Helgason injecting some urgency into their attack. The Icelandic midfielder saw one shot deflect narrowly over and another clever free-kick effort hit the side-netting.

But Napoli managed the game superbly in the final stages, frustrating their opponents and keeping control to secure a crucial away win. The result extends their unbeaten run and gives them breathing room as Milan continue to chase.

Lecce’s struggles, however, continue. Now without a win in 12 Serie A outings and goalless in four consecutive meetings with Napoli. Now, they remain perilously close to the relegation zone, just one point clear with the season entering its decisive stretch.

Lucas Paqueta’s emotional struggles were on full display during West Ham United’s draw with Tottenham. On Sunday, the Brazilian midfielder appeared to break down in tears after receiving a second-half yellow card.

Caught in the middle of an ongoing Football Association investigation over alleged betting rule breaches, Paqueta’s frustration came to a head after a foul on Spurs youngster Mikey Moore earned him a caution from referee Michael Oliver. The 27-year-old was visibly distressed, with TV cameras capturing him wiping tears from his face after protesting the booking.

Referee Oliver was seen warning the midfielder over his reaction, while teammates stepped in to calm him down.

Paqueta is currently under scrutiny for alleged spot-fixing related to four yellow cards received during Premier League matches. If found guilty, the Brazil international could face a lifetime ban from football. He has strongly denied all charges.

“He’s a player doing his best under very difficult circumstances,” West Ham manager Graham Potter said post-match. “Lucas is an emotional guy, and you saw that. But he’s given everything for this team and he’s coping as best as he can.”

The midfielder’s fate now lies in the hands of an independent panel. However, the outcome won’t be determined until at least June. The hearing, originally set to wrap up in March, was postponed due to the complex nature of the case.

As Paqueta continues to perform under pressure, his passion and emotional response reflect the toll the uncertainty has taken. not just on his career, but also on his well-being.