Cavani delivers as Napoli see off Sampdoria

Serie A top scorer Edinson Cavani kept his nerve to score from the penalty spot and earn SSC Napoli a 1-0 victory at UC Sampdoria, while S.S. Lazio returned to winning ways to climb up to third.

The Partenopei moved level with Juventus on 16 points at the top of the table, but it was hard work against a side who endured a first home loss of the season. The key moment came midway through the second half, when Daniele Gastaldello brought down Marek Hamšík in the area to earn a second yellow card. Cavani fired in the winner for his sixth league goal this term.

Lazio defeated AC Siena 2-1 as Ederson headed in a corner from close range on 17 minutes and Cristian Ledesma converted a penalty later in the first half. Massimo Paci struck in added time for the visitors, but it was not enough to prevent Lazio clinching the win after two consecutive Serie A setbacks. Meanwhile, FC Internazionale Milano finally claimed a home victory as Diego Milito's penalty and an Antonio Cassano strike gave them a 2-1 win against ACF Fiorentina.

US Città di Palermo registered their first triumph of the season in emphatic style as Fabrizio Miccoli hit a hat-trick in a 4-1 home win against AC Chievo Verona, while Torino FC were also among the goals as two from Rolando Bianchi bookended the visitors' scoring in a fine 5-1 win at Atalanta BC.

Elsewhere, Alberto Gilardino scored twice in Bologna FC's 4-0 home defeat of Calcio Catania, Pescara picked up a second league success, beating Cagliari Calcio 2-1 to leave the hosts winless at the foot of the table, and Udinese Calcio and Genoa CFC played out a goalless stalemate.