Napoli held at Cagliari, Udinese win

SSC Napoli will head into the winter break in third place in Serie A after securing a 1-1 draw at Cagliari Calcio.

Pepe Reina was back in goal after missing recent games with a minor injury and he was beaten within nine minutes of kick-off, Nenê supplying the finishing touch after Davide Astori had taken advantage of a Christian Maggio blunder to pick him out. Napoli swiftly struck back, Gonzalo Higuaín converting from the penalty spot following Astori's foul on Goran Pandev, but although the Partenopei then pushed for a winner, it was not to be.

AS Livorno Calcio, meanwhile, remain in relegation trouble following a 2-1 home defeat against Udinese Calcio. Nicolás López put the visitors ahead on 11 minutes with his first goal for the club, and while Luca Siligardi responded before the break, Frenchman Thomas Heurtaux secured all three points for his side with a close-range finish 25 minutes from the end.