Conte hails Napoli response after comeback victory

Antonio Conte credited his Napoli players for the response they showed in Saturday's 3-1 comeback win at Udinese, which kept them within touching distance of the Serie A summit.

Napoli slipped five points behind Scudetto frontrunners Atalanta after La Dea beat Cagliari to make it 10 straight league victories – a new club record – earlier on Saturday.

They fell behind to Florian Thauvin's 22nd-minute opener, only for Romelu Lukaku and Frank Anguissa to net either side of Lautaro Giannetti's own goal after the break.

Conte's side have now won five of their last seven away Serie A matches (two draws), including two in a row for the first time since last October. This season, only Atalanta (six) have more away wins than Napoli.

Speaking after the game, the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss told DAZN: "Udinese are a very good side and I saw a strong response from my boys.

"We have to be realistic, fearless and understand that to win you have to take control of the game, as we did today."

For Conte, the scoreline in the first half did not reflect his side's dominance.

"We controlled the game from start to finish, even though we were 1-0 down. The penalty didn't change the game for us," the Partenopei coach added.

"We created chances in the first half and we must continue to play that kind of football.

"Keeping possession, dominating the game, pressing high and dictating the game is crucial for us."

Napoli are now unbeaten in their last 17 matches against Udinese in Serie A, winning 14 and drawing three.

Among the teams currently in Serie A, only against Como (18 without defeat), are Napoli currently on a longer such run.

They are next in action against Genoa next Saturday, while title rivals Atalanta host Empoli the following day.