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Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 11 hrs 29 mins
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RL
Serie A
Oct 18, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
NL

2-0

Pjanic (45', 71' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

Rafael Benitez: 'We controlled the game'

:Headline: Rafael Benitez: 'We controlled the game': ID:112085: from db_amp
Rafael Benitez says that Napoli were on top against Roma before the referee awarded the home side a penalty early in the second half.

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez has said that the referee's decision to award Roma a penalty early in the second half changed the game at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Giallorossi led 1-0 through Miralem Pjanic's first-half free kick when Paolo Cannavaro was penalised for bringing down Marco Boriello inside the area.

Benitez believes that his team were on top in the second period but found it difficult to break down the defensive home side.

"The penalty changed everything," Benitez told Sky Sport Italia. "Everyone told me it was not a penalty. You can see 50 of those tussles in every game. I am not here to say whether it was a penalty or not, as that will be down to the referees to judge.

"Up until the penalty we were pinning Roma back, but that changed everything and we went down to 10 men. If Roma defend with 11 men behind the ball, it's not easy to find space.

"I look at the performance and in terms of character Napoli did very well this evening. I said beforehand this game would not decide the title, but clearly with the way we played tonight I'd say it was a positive evening. We played well and this bodes well for the future."

Napoli now trail the leaders by five points in Serie A.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli118121881025
2Inter Milan1173125131224
3Atalanta BCAtalanta1171329141522
4Fiorentina116412291322
5Lazio1171324141022
6Juventus115601971221
7AC Milan105231711617
8Udinese115151416-216
9Bologna103611211115
10Torino114251516-114
11Empoli1135389-114
12Roma113441214-213
13Hellas VeronaHellas Verona114071624-812
14CagliariCagliari11236919-109
15Genoa11236821-139
16Como112361222-109
17Parma111641417-39
18Monza111551014-48
19VeneziaVenezia112271019-98
20Lecce11227420-168
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