Napoli and Juventus close in on Roma

SSC Napoli and Juventus are both two points adrift of Serie A leaders AS Roma after comfortable victories against AS Livorno Calcio and AC Milan respectively.

Rafael Benítez's team, who succumbed 2-0 at Arsenal FC in midweek, returned to league action by taking a third-minute lead through Goran Pandev. Midfielder Gökhan Inler made it two before José Callejón and Marek Hamšík added second-half goals to secure a 4-0 win and extend the Partenopei's unbeaten start to seven games.

Juve, meanwhile, recovered from Sulley Muntari's opener for the Rossoneri inside the first minute. The Bianconeri drew level through Andrea Pirlo after 15 minutes, before second-half goals from Sebastian Giovinco and Giorgio Chiellini made it 3-1. Muntari pulled another one back for the visitors in the final minute but it was too little, too late.

In the day's other evening game, ACF Fiorentina versus SS Lazio ended goalless. Elsewhere, Hellas Verona FC consigned Bologna FC to a 4-1 reverse to climb into fifth, former Italy striker Luca Toni among the scorers, while Udinese eased past Cagliari Calcio 2-0. As for Parma FC, they made it four games unbeaten by sweeping aside US Sassuolo Calcio 3-1 as both teams finished with ten men.

Meanwhile, struggling UC Sampdoria left it late to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Torino FC, and the game between Calcio Catania and Genoa CFC finished 1-1.