Cavani brings up century as Napoli are held

SSC Napoli spurned the chance to close within three points of frontrunners Juventus as they were held to a 1-1 draw at ACF Fiorentina, despite a landmark goal for Edinson Cavani.

The Partenopei went into the match on the back of three straight Serie A wins, but their task became more difficult after 33 minutes when they fell behind through unusual circumstances. Fiorentina defender Facundo Roncaglia sent a long ball forward from the halfway line, and his hopeful pass somehow looped into the net as Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis misjudged the bounce.

Three minutes before the break, however, the visitors responded in familiar fashion, with Cavani heading in Marek Hamšík's free-kick to register his 100th strike in the Italian top flight. No further goals followed, to leave Walter Mazzarri's side five points off the top despite moving into second above S.S. Lazio.

Four points further back, FC Internazionale Milano had to settle for a 1-1 draw at AS Roma, with Rodrigo Palacio striking in first-half added time to cancel out a Francesco Totti penalty for the hosts. The result prevented Roma from leapfrogging sixth-placed AC Milan, for whom Giampaolo Pazzini scored twice in a 2-1 win against Bologna FC.

Elsewhere, bottom of the table AC Siena's 1-0 victory against UC Sampdoria lifted them within six points of safety after ten-man Pescara Calcio went down 2-0 at home to Torino FC. Calcio Catania won 2-0 at Genoa CFC, Cagliari Calcio drew 1-1 at Atalanta BC and the match between AC Chievo Verona and Parma FC ended with the same scoreline.