Politano stars as Napoli comes back to beat Lecce
Napoli captain Matteo Politano delivered an assist and the winning goal as his side secured a 2-1 Serie A victory over Lecce to keep its top-four hopes firmly on track.
Antonio Conte's side was stunned early on at 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, which are battling to avoid relegation this season, nearly doubled the 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 cutback, 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.
Late in the match, Banda collapsed to the turf with nobody around him, and Conte rushed to his assistance as others gathered around with concern for the Zambia international.
He was driven off the field on a motorised stetcher, and transferred to local hospital, a Lecce statement revealed later in the night.
"The player was taken to the Cardarelli Hospital in Naples, where he is under observation," it read.
