MILAN (AP) — Matteo Politano almost joined Napoli in January. He could have just cost the southern-based club the Serie A title as he helped Sassuolo draw with Maurizio Sarri's side 1-1 on Saturday.
Politano scored in the 22nd minute and Sassuolo led for most of the match before an own goal from Rogerio rescued a point for Napoli.
Napoli remained second, but could find itself four points behind Serie A leader Juventus if the six-time reigning champion beats AC Milan later.
All 10 matches are being played on Saturday because of Easter.
Napoli was desperate to sign Politano in the January transfer window but failed to get the paperwork completed in time.
He showed Napoli what it missed when he volleyed in a rebound after Federico Peluso headed Stefano Sensi's free kick off the right post.
Napoli should have leveled shortly before halftime when Lorenzo Insigne got on the end of an Allan cross but Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli brilliantly parried it at point-blank range.
Sassuolo almost doubled its lead early in the second half as Politano's effort stung Pepe Reina's gloves and Domenico Berardi fired the rebound over.
Sassuolo's goalkeeper Andrea Consigli, left, faces Napoli's Jose' Maria Callejon during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Napoli at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Saturday, March 31, 2018. (Elisabetta Baracchi/ANSA via AP)
Arkadiusz Milik was sent on for Jorginho in the 65th and the Poland international headed a corner narrowly over.
Consigli pulled off another great save in the 80th to deny Piotr Zielinski but could do nothing seconds later when Mario Rui's cross came off Rogerio's knee as he tried to shield it from Jose Callejon.
Napoli threw everyone forward and Milik hit the crossbar with an overhead kick.
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SCORING RACE
The race to be Serie A top goalscorer is heating up with leading candidates Ciro Immobile and Mauro Icardi both scoring twice.
Icardi's goals helped Inter Milan reaffirm its return to form with a 3-0 win over Hellas Verona, while Immobile helped Lazio beat 10-man Benevento 6-2.
Sassuolo's Matteo Politano celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Napoli at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Saturday, March 31, 2018. (Elisabetta Baracchi/ANSA via AP)
Immobile leads with 26 goals, two more than Icardi.
Icardi scored four in Inter's 5-0 win at Sampdoria before the international break and he resumed where he left off, firing his side in front after just 38 seconds and doubling his tally early in the second half.
Ivan Perisic set up both of Icardi's goals and scored Inter's second.
Verona goalkeeper Nicolas was sent off in the final minute for bringing down Eder.
Inter, which faces AC Milan in the derby on Wednesday, remained in fourth spot. It leads Lazio by one point after the capital side survived a scare when bottom side Benevento took a 2-1 lead in the second half despite playing from the seventh minute with 10 men after goalkeeper Christian Puggioni was sent off for handling the ball outside his area.
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OTHER MATCHES
Sassuolo's Matteo Politano celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Napoli at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Saturday, March 31, 2018. (Elisabetta Baracchi/ANSA via AP)
Last year's top goalscorer, Edin Dzeko, came off the bench to help Roma draw at Bologna 1-1.
Midfielder Radja Nainggolan limped off after just 16 minutes, and is a serious doubt to face Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Genoa missed a penalty but netted another in a controversial 1-1 draw against Spal, which moved two points above the relegation zone after 10-man Crotone lost at Fiorentina 2-0.
Chievo Verona moved four points clear after beating Sampdoria 2-1.
Torino won at Cagliari 4-0, and Atalanta beat Udinese 2-0.
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