Scott McTominay delivered another strong performance in his debut season in Italy, scoring twice as Napoli secured a 3-0 victory over Empoli. The Scottish midfielder ended a six-match scoring drought in Serie A by netting the opening goal in the 18th minute. He struck from the edge of the box after Romelu Lukaku set him up with a tidy pass.
Lukaku added Napoli’s second early in the second half, bringing his tally to 12 league goals for the season. The Belgian forward fired past goalkeeper Devis Vasquez to extend the home side’s lead.
Just five minutes later, McTominay found the net again, this time with a header that clipped the underside of the bar after connecting with Lukaku’s lofted cross. The 28-year-old came close to completing his hat trick shortly afterward but struck the post following another assist from Lukaku.
With eight goals in Serie A, McTominay is enjoying the most productive league season of his career. Since departing Manchester United last summer, only Bruno Fernandes among his former teammates has matched his goal tally in the league.
Napoli close in on Inter, Empoli still struggling
The win moves Napoli to within three points of Serie A leaders Inter Milan, with six matches remaining. The reigning champions are aiming to secure their second title in three years.
Empoli, meanwhile, continue to struggle near the bottom of the table. They sit in 19th place, two points behind the safety zone, with time running out to climb out of the relegation zone.
Next up, Antonio Conte’s side travels to face Monza on Saturday, while Inter will visit Bologna on Sunday in a key match for both the title race and Champions League qualification hopes.
