Napoli blew Roma away at the Stadio San Paolo on Saturday afternoon in Serie A, but missed a host of chances in the 2-0 win.
Gonzalo Higuain put the home side ahead early on with a brilliantly executed scissor kick, before Jose Callejon put the game beyond doubt on 84 minutes.
In the first minute Napoli had the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside. But just a minute later they did have it in the back of net once more, and this time it counted.
Higuain got on the end of a deflected Lorenzo Insigne shot to acrobatically fire past Morgan De Sanctis from close range.
Constant pressing high up the pitch didn’t allow Roma any time on the ball as Insigne saw one shot go wide, before another was turned round the post by De Santis.
Not long after, Callejon smashed the crossbar after a swift Partenopei counterattack.
It took about 20 minutes for Roma to look like they had a match to play, but Vasilis Torosidis’ tame effort from the edge of the area was easily gathered by Rafael.
Insigne was causing plenty of issues down the left, and after a deft turn which took two defenders out the game, he shot wide again.
Next is was Callejon getting in on the act, as he slid in on a Hamsik cross, but couldn’t get the shot on target.
Napoli had a great chance to double their lead just before the break. Insigne played Higuain in, but the Argentine couldn’t round De Sancits, who pushed the ball away, then the second attempt saw the ball squared to Hamsik, but he rattled the crossbar from 10 yards.
Moments later Callejon had a chance which was almost spilled into the path of Higuain by De Sancitis
Roma look to have a bit more impetous after the break and Alessandro Florenzi had a guilt-edged chance after Miralem Pjanic found him with a low cross, but the Roma midfielder could only fire wide.
The pressure exerted from the Giallorossi almost came back to bite them as Kalidou Koulibaly sprinted down the right on the counter and fed in Callejon, but the Spaniard’s chipped effort wasn’t forceful enough and his shot was cleared off the line by Radja Nainggolan.
Just as it looked like Roma were on the front foot, Napoli stepped their game up and some great combination play from Insigne and Higuain almost saw the young Italian’s shot sneak in at the far post.
But it wasnt long before the home side put the game beyond Roma as Jose Callejon grabbed his eighth of the season.
Jorginho won the ball in midfield before Higuain played the ball into the box for Callejon, who subsequently poked past the onrushing De Sanctis.
