ROME -- Napoli are fancying their chances for another Serie A cup victory after they trounced visiting AC Milan 2-1 on Sunday in the 30th round of the national Italian football competition with eight rounds left to play. Tough Napoli coach Antonio Conte’s team has managed to steer the club into contention for the main prize despite the departures of Nigerian Victor Osimhen and Georgian national hero Kvicha 'Kvaradona' Kvaratskhelia earlier in the season.

 Ruben Loftus-Cheek, English national player and AC Milan midfielder was hospitalised before the game with acute appendicitis, which was operated on successfully, while Napoli's Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay was a non-combatant due to influenza.

 This leaves Napoli just 3 points behind dominant Inter Milan who defeated Udinese 2-1 on Sunday. Inter’s goalkeeper Sommer showed particular brilliance to keep the Milanese juggernaut ahead in the final stages of the game.

 Inter Milan are ahead on just 67 points to Napoli’s 64. Napoli will be dreaming of a rerun of their surprise 2023 Serie A victory which led to raucous celebrations in the city, which lasted for months.

 The Serie A is now locked in a two horse race as Inter Milan and Napoli pull well clear of the rest of the league. Particular disappointments include Atalanta, who lost 1-0 Fiorentina, their second loss in a row, down to 58 points and no clear path to the top. The resignation of Atalanta was confirmed by coach Gian Piero Gasperini “In terms of the title race, I would say we’re done,”.

 AS Roma scraped through a bruising 1-0 game against Lecce to go to 6th place in the league on Saturday night. This leapfrogged their position ahead of arch rivals Lazio who sank to 7th position. Despite a disallowed goal and strong counterattacks from the Lecce side, As Roma’s Ukrainian ace Artem Dobyk was able to secure victory with a fantastic 80th minute strike from within the box.

 This continues an impressive winning streak for 73-year-old manager Ranieri who has not lost a match in the Serie A this year.

 With only four points separating them from fourth place in the standings, Roma will now be dreaming of a top 5 finish which would put them in the Champions League for the first time in almost a decade.

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