Højlund's double sees Napoli beat Juventus and spoil Spalletti's return

MILAN (AP) — Luciano Spalletti’s return to the team he led to the Serie A title was spoiled by Rasmus Højlund's brace as host Napoli beat Juventus 2-1 on Sunday.

The result also lifted Napoli back to the top of the Italian league. The defending champion moved a point above Inter Milan and three points above AC Milan, which visits Torino on Monday.

It was Juventus coach Spalletti’s first time at Napoli as opposition manager since he led the southern team to its first scudetto in more than 30 years in 2023.

Napoli coach Antonio Conte was also facing his former team. He steered Juventus to three Serie A titles during his time in charge and also played for the Bianconeri for 13 years, winning numerous trophies.

Adding to the occasion, it was the first time the two coaches had faced each other.

Napoli got off to a great start as the in-form David Neres got away down the right before rolling the ball across for Højlund to tap it in with less than seven minutes on the clock.

Napoli had the better of the chances but Juventus leveled in the 59th minute as the Bianconeri went on the counterattack and Kenan Yıldız played a one-two with Weston McKennie before placing an angled drive into the far bottom corner.

McKennie inadvertently also played a role at the other end in what proved to be the winner for Napoli in the 78th.

The United States international tried to head away a cross for Neres but his attempt was rather weak and went to Hojlund to head in from four yards (meters).

Roma lost ground in the title race as it fell to a 1-0 defeat at Cagliari after playing most of the match with 10 men.

Roma remained fourth but slipped four points below Napoli. It was Cagliari’s first win since September and lifted the Sardinian team four points above the drop zone.

The match turned in the 49th minute when Roma defender Zeki Çelik brought down Cagliari midfielder Michael Folorunsho right on the edge of the area.

The referee initially awarded a penalty but realized the foul was just outside the area after reviewing the incident. He revoked the spot kick but showed Çelik a straight red card for denying a clear scoring occasion.

Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar pulled off a number of impressive saves but Cagliari broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute.

Gianluca Gaetano was left completely unmarked to chest down a corner and fire the ball in off the inside of the far post.

Bologna failed to make the most of Roma's slipup as it was held to a 1-1 draw at Lazio.

Bologna would have moved level with Roma with a win but was left two points below the capital side.

Gustav Isaksen tapped home a rebound in the 38th minute but Danish compatriot Jens Odgaard scored in similar circumstances at the other end just two minutes later.

Lazio defender Mario Gila was sent off in the 79th minute for dissent after receiving a yellow card for a challenge on Santiago Castro.

Earlier, Cremonese beat Lecce 2-0.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Juventus' Kenan Yildiz celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Juventus, in Naples, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Napoli's Rasmus Hojlund, centre, scores the opening goal during the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Juventus, in Naples, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Napoli's Rasmus Hojlund, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Juventus, in Naples, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna's head coach Vincenzo Italiano shouts instructions to his players during a Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Bologna at the Rome's Olympic stadium, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Cagliari's Gianluca Gaetano, left, celebrates with teammate Alessandro Deiola after scoring their side's opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between Cagliari and Roma, in Cagliari, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Gianluca Zuddas/LaPresse via AP)

Roma's coach Gian Piero Gasparini smiles ahead of the Serie A soccer match between Cagliari Calcio and Roma, in Cagliari, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Gianluca Zuddas/LaPresse via AP)

Cagliari's coach Fabio Pisacane enters the pitch ahead of the Serie A soccer match between Cagliari Calcio and Roma, in Cagliari, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Gianluca Zuddas/LaPresse via AP)

Cagliari's Michael Folorunsho, right, falls after an action with Roma's Mehmet Zeki Çelik, during a Serie A soccer match between Cagliari and Roma, in Cagliari, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (Gianluca Zuddas/LaPresse via AP)

LONDON (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was meeting the French, German and British leaders in London on Monday as Kyiv’s European allies try to strengthen Ukraine’s hand in thorny talks on a U.S.-backed plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was due to gather with Zelenskyy, President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the British leader’s 10 Downing St. residence.

Zelenskyy said late Sunday that his talks with European leaders this week in London and Brussels will focus on security, air defense and long-term funding for Ukraine’s war effort. The leaders are working to ensure that any ceasefire is backed by solid security guarantees both from Europe and the U.S. to deter Russia from attacking again.

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the U.S. administration’s peace proposal.

Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram that talks had been “substantive” and that National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov were traveling back to Europe to brief him.

A major sticking point in the proposal is the suggestion Ukraine must cede control of its eastern Donbas region to Russia, which illegally occupies most but not all of its territory. Ukraine and its European allies have balked at the idea of handing over land.

In an exchange with reporters on Sunday night, President Donald Trump appeared frustrated with Zelenskyy, claiming the Ukrainian leader “hasn’t yet read the proposal.”

“Russia is, I believe, fine with it, but I’m not sure that Zelenskyy’s fine with it," Trump said before taking part in the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington. "His people love it, but he hasn't read it."

Trump has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Zelenskyy since riding into a second White House term insisting that the war was a waste of U.S. taxpayers’ money. Trump has also repeatedly urged the Ukrainians to cede land to Russia to bring an end to the nearly four-year conflict.

The European talks follow the publication of a new U.S. national security strategy that alarmed European leaders and was welcomed by Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the document, which spells out the administration’s core foreign policy interests, was largely in line with Moscow’s vision.

The document released Friday by the White House said the U.S. wants to improve its relationship with Russia after years of Moscow being treated as a global pariah and that ending the war is a core U.S. interest to “reestablish strategic stability with Russia.”

The document also says NATO must not be “a perpetually expanding alliance,” echoing another complaint of Russia’s. It was scathing about the migration and free speech policies of longstanding U.S. allies in Europe, suggesting they face the “prospect of civilizational erasure” due to migration.

Starmer’s government has declined to comment on the American document, saying it is a matter for the U.S. government.

As diplomatic efforts continued, Russian forces continued to assault Ukraine over the weekend. At least four people were killed in drone and missile strikes on Sunday, while Moscow continues to target Ukrainian energy infrastructure as winter sets in.

Meanwhile, Russian air defenses destroyed 67 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Monday. The drones were shot down over 11 Russian regions, it said.

Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.

FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron, right, welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Dec. 1, 2025 before a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, a rescue worker puts out a fire of a residential building damaged by a Russian strike in Sumy region, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, a rescue worker puts out a fire of a car in front of a residential building damaged by a Russian strike in Sumy region, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)