Juventus hold firm to frustrate Napoli

Juventus maintained their advantage over second-placed SSC Napoli in Serie A after a 1-1 draw at the Stadio San Paolo.

The visitors made the most of their impressive early opening when Giorgio Chiellini headed in, but the hosts levelled just before the break through Gökhan Inler. Napoli went close to completing the turnaround after the break but remain six points adrift with 11 games to play.

Juventus started confidently against a challenger that had drawn their last three league matches and hit the front when Andrea Pirlo's deep cross was powerfully headed in by Chiellini. Mirko Vučinić then missed two opportunities to double the lead, heading wide before failing to beat Morgan De Sanctis with another presentable chance.

Walter Mazzarri's men made the champions pay for that profligacy as Inler levelled with a spectacular effort from distance, his drive taking a slight deflection off the head of Leonardo Bonucci. The Partenopei looked the more likely to claim a winner after the interval but Gianluigi Buffon made a fine save from Marek Hamšík, then Blerim Dzemaili fired the best chance of the half wide.