Kwadwo Asamoah failed to make the cut as Juventus defeated Napoli 2-1 in Serie A in Turin on Saturday.

Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Algeria’s Faouzi Ghoulam both played for the visitors in the game.

The 27-year-old Ghana midfielder returned from injury in the comfortable midweek victory against Sampdoria but coach Massimiliano Allegri left him out in a testy encounter against Napoli this weekend.

Four points separated both sides in the top three going into the game but it was the Old Lady that made the most of the occasion to score early in the second half when Bonucci pounced on a rebound from a corner kick to give his side the lead.

Napoli turned the table against their hosts with a José Callejón goal four minutes later but it was their former star Higuain that would have the final say.

The Argentine struck on 70 minutes and it was all Juventus needed to hold on for a sweet victory and extend their lead on top of the table.

Asamoah’s inability to make his sixth appearance for the season will be cause of worry for Ghana coach Avram Grant who would want his best players to be getting enough game time ahead of next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifying trip to Egypt.

Gabon’s Mario Lemina was also left on the bench by Juventus.