Napoli beat Chievo 2–1 at the Stadio Bentegodi in Serie A on Sunday afternoon.
First half own goals from Bostjan Cesar and Miguel Britos left the game evenly poised at 1–1 before Manolo Gabbiadini’s first goal for the Partenopei won it in the second half.
Chievo asked a question of Rafael in the second minute but the goalkeeper was out quickly to claim a cross from the right flank before Sergio Pellissier could turn it in.
The game was quite scrappy in the early exchanges with neither side looking especially creative. Although Napoli’s Ivan Strinic made an important header at the back on 14 minutes to clear a well-hit cross.
Napoli took the lead on 17 minutes after Gonzalo Higuain played in Manolo Gabbiadini with a wonderful volleyed pass, and Albano Bizzarri saved the initial shot only for it to rebound off Bosjan Cesar and roll into the open goal.
Chievo however equalised in the 24th minute, after Rafael punched a cross straight into his teammate Britos, and the ball found its way into the open goal.
The Flying Donkeys had a chance to take the lead in the 27th minute but Pellissier headed wide after getting his head on a powerful cross from the right flank.
Napoli replied after a long ball was collected by Higuain but the Argentine fired off target when he possibly could have passed in the 32nd minute.
Chievo exerted some pressure towards the end of the half and Valter Birsa crossed a free-kick into a good position but the home side couldn’t take the lead and the teams went in level.
The visitors had a good chance at the start of the second half but Bizzarri saved well from Gabbiadini.
Chievo responded with a fast start to the second half but Ervin Zukanovic couldn’t turn and get a shot away quickly enough from close range and Rafael was able to save.
Gabbiadini restored Napoli’s lead in the 61st minute and his first goal for the Azzurri came after Strinic broke down the left and gave it to the striker who did well to turn and fire it into the bottom left corner.
The game settled in something of a rhythm with the Partenopei willing to let Chievo keep the ball but the home side were unable to do much with it while Napoli occasionally looked like making things happen on the counterattack.
Napoli had a great chance to kill the game after a quick break but De Guzman blazed over from close range.
Higuain could have made it 3–1 in the 87th minute if it hadn’t been for a brilliant Zukanovic block but Chievo were not able to exert any real pressure in the final minutes and the Azzurri hung on for the win.
