Neres doubles gives Napoli the Italian Super Cup

Riyadh, Dec. 24: David Neres scored in each half for Napoli as the reigning Serie A champion won the Italian Super Cup for a third time on Monday, beating Bologna 2-0 in Saudi Arabia.

The teams met in Riyadh to decide a tournament played between the winners and runners-up of last season's league and cup competitions.

Neres' 39th-minute opener was a worthy cup winner, his superb left foot shot from 25 meters out curling into the far corner and giving an outstretched Federico Ravaglia no chance in the Bologna goal.

His second showed a different side to his attacking talents, as, with nearly an hour gone, he took advantage of a slack pass from Ravaglia and dispossessed John Lucumi before dinking the ball over the prostrate keeper.

It was the second time the former Ajax and Sao Paulo winger has bagged a brace for Napoli since joining the club from Benfica in August 2024.

The win marked Napoli's third triumph in the competition, following wins in 1990 and 2014. Antonio Conte's side has won seven of its last nine competitive games.

It sits in third place in Serie A, one point behind AC Milan and two points behind leader Inter Milan.

Fulham win 

A record-equalling first half penalty from Raul Jimenez gave Fulham a 1-0 win over lowly Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Monday.

The London side sought to avoid losing three consecutive home league games for only the second time since being promoted in 2022 and Jimenez's precise strike from 12 meters ensured it avoided that fate in an uninspiring encounter.

An uneventful first half came to life seconds before halftime when Fulham was awarded a spot kick following a foul by Douglas Luiz on his fellow Brazilian Kevin.

Mexican striker Jimenez scored for the 11th time in 11 attempts to preserve his 100% conversion record in the league. Only one other player, Yaya Toure, has scored 11 out of 11 penalties in the competition.

"I like to have the pressure of the penalties," Jimenez said. "I have never missed. I am really happy about that and I want to continue like that. If there are more penalties to come then I will be there."

Forest came more into the game at the start of the second half but Fulham had the best chances to score with Jimenez and Kevin both spurning good opportunities.

The result in the Premier League's last match before Christmas lifted the Cottagers two places into 13th, equal on points with the teams above it, Brentford and Newcastle.

Forest remained in 17th, five points clear of the bottom three.

Espanyol beat Athletic 

Espanyol won a fifth consecutive La Liga game on Monday, coming from behind to prevail at Athletic Bilbao 2-1 and stay within striking distance of the top four.

Athletic has struggled with consistency and fans at the San Mamés were hopeful of a home win to boost the club before January's series of five straight away games in La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup and Champions League.

They got the start they wanted when Álex Berenguer scored the opening goal seven minutes before halftime, the left winger reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box and poking it home.

However, Espanyol drew level a minute before halftime thanks to a long-range volley from Carlos Romero. Edu Expósito's free kick from the left was headed clear by Oihan Sancet but Romero met it sweetly outside the box to make it 1-1.

Worse was to come for the home fans seven minutes into the second period.

Adama Boiro was caught in possession on the right wing and Manchester-born Tyrhys Dolan's low cross was steered home at the back post by Pere Milla.

The result was a letdown for Athletic, which despite having almost two thirds of possession and almost twice as many shots on goal could not break down a stuffy defense.

The result left it in eighth place, its worst placing at this stage of the season for four years.

Espanyol was fifth, two points behind Villarreal. (AP)