Dybala makes stunning comeback as Juventus end slump with Napoli win

Juventus striker Paulo Dybala marked his return from injury with a stunning goal in a 2-1 win over Napoli on Wednesday that moved the Turin club into third place in Serie A and ended their form slump.

Cristiano Ronaldo fired the hosts into an early lead before Dybala, making his first league appearance since January, curled a shot into the bottom corner to double their lead after 73 minutes.

Lorenzo Insigne pulled one back for Napoli from the penalty spot in the final minute, but it was too little too late as the visitors’ four-match league winning run came to an end.

It was a huge result for Juve coach Andrea Pirlo, who came into the game under massive pressure after picking up one point from two games against relegation-battling sides Benevento and Torino.

The champions are third in the standings with 59 points, one behind second-placed AC Milan. Napoli is fifth with 56 points.

For the first time in what feels like a long time, Juventus rose to the occasion.

What a welcome sight that was. And what an important win this was.

In what was easily their most complete game in weeks — if not months — Juventus got the win that they needed both in the standings and, probably, simply to reestablish the faith that they can win these types of games. Or win much of anything with the way things have been going lately. Thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala on his return to the field after two months injured, Juventus picked up three incredibly valuable points with a 2-1 win over Napoli on Wednesday night to give the Italian champions some much-needed breathing room in the race for the Champions League.

It was a night where Andrea Pirlo pushed the right buttons and outsmarted his former AC Milan teammate on the opposing touchline.

And maybe, more importantly, it was a game where Juventus, after the way they went into and came out of the international break, looked like a competent and functional team once again.