Napoli and Juventus close the gap

SSC Napoli and Juventus have moved to within two points of Serie A frontrunners AS Roma following slender victories against Calcio Catania and Parma FC respectively.

Confidence was clearly sky-high in Naples after a midweek defeat of ACF Fiorentina, and the Partenopei took the game to struggling Catania. José Callejón's top-corner finish was followed by Marek Hamšík's thumping drive as Napoli seized control early on. Despite Lucas Castro's tap-in then reducing the visitors' arrears in a frantic first 25 minutes, Rafael Benítez's men prevailed.

Juventus, who had themselves dispatched Catania 4-0 in midweek, celebrated coach Antonio Conte's 100th Serie A match in the dugout with a 1-0 victory over Parma FC at the Stadio Tardini. Paul Pogba got the game's only goal on 77 minutes, reacting quickly to knock in the rebound after substitute Fabio Quagliarella's whipped effort had hit the crossbar.

Seven points further back are Fiorentina, who jumped to fourth place with an eyecatching 2-0 win at AC Milan. The Rossoneri have struggled for form this term and find themselves tenth in the standings after a fifth defeat of the season, brought about by Juan Vargas' deflected free-kick and Borja Valero's back-post strike from Joaquín's cross.