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Napoli edged Lecce 2-1 in Serie A, with captain Matteo Politano providing both the assist and decisive goal to keep the chase for a top-four place alive, while extending an unbeaten home league run that now stretches across the entire current campaign.

After half-time changes swung control, Napoli struck back quickly, as Politano squared for Rasmus Hojlund to tap in, then later met Kevin De Bruyne’s flicked corner with a sharp volley on 67 minutes, beating Wladimiro Falcone at the back post to complete the turnaround.

Lecce had stunned the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona crowd inside three minutes, when Jamil Seibert arrived to guide Antonino Gallo’s cross into the top-right corner, giving the visitors, who are fighting relegation, an early lead that briefly silenced the home support.

The first half remained tense, with Lecce nearly doubling their advantage when Lameck Banda saw a goal-bound strike blocked by Mathias Olivera, while Billy Gilmour also missed the target from a low cut-back, before Politano went close as a bending shot flew just beyond the far post.

Antonio Conte adjusted at the interval, introducing the recently recovered Kevin De Bruyne alongside Scott McTominay, and those substitutions helped Napoli control possession, move the ball quicker through midfield, and pin Lecce deeper in their own half from the restart.

The equaliser arrived only 50 seconds into the second half, when Politano found space on the flank and squared for Hojlund, who finished from close range, and the Denmark international then wasted a second opportunity soon after, heading off target from a promising position.

Lecce still threatened on the counter, with Walid Cheddira hitting the side netting during a rare break, yet Politano had the decisive say, timing a late run to meet De Bruyne’s near-post flick from a corner and volleying firmly past Falcone to seal three points.

Napoli 2-1 Lecce data debrief and records

Politano ended a frustrating Serie A drought in emphatic fashion, having arrived at this match with more total attempts, 36, and efforts on target, eight, without scoring than any other player in the division this season, before finally converting against Lecce.

His influence this league campaign is clear, with five assists from 26 Serie A appearances, already bettering last season’s total of four, while the goal against Lecce also meant Politano has now been involved in 101 Serie A goals, comprising 54 goals and 47 assists.

Napoli’s victory ensured an unbeaten run across their first 14 home Serie A fixtures this season, matching an achievement managed only once before in the three-points-for-a-win era, during the 2015-16 campaign under Maurizio Sarri, and keeping the club firmly in contention near the top.

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