Sampdoria were held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Monday night in Serie A.
A header in additional time by substitute Duvan Zapata extended the Partenopei’s unbeaten run to ten league games after Eder had given Samp the lead and Kalidou Koulibaly was shown a second yellow card.
Both sides had surprises in their starting line-ups as rumoured Napoli transfer target Manolo Gabbiadini was dropped to the bench with Roberto Soriano used as the trequartista in a 4-3-1-2 behind Stefano Okaka and Eder.
Rafa Benitez advanced left back Faouzi Ghoulam to the left point of his supporting trident behind Gonzalo Higuain, and the Algeria international nearly opened the scoring heading wide from a Christian Maggio cross.
The Vesuviani struggled to pick up Soriano, and the new Italy international wanted a penalty after his header hit the elbow of Koulibaly from close range and Gokhan Inler then challenged him from behind.
Higuain was looking to become the first Partenopei player to find the net for six successive matches since Diego Maradona in the 1987-88 season, but was denied by Argentina international teammate Sergio Romero picking the ball of his toes.
The two sides went into the match separated by only one point, and five yellow cards were shown by referee Gianluca Rocchi in a combative first half.
Alfred Duncan replaced Pedro Obiang at half time, but Napoli started the second half in the ascendancy and were denied their own penalty appeal as Raul Albiol was pulled to the ground inside the box.
Eder snatched the lead against the run of play with a low right footed shot from the edge of the box that beat Rafael Cabral at the near post to score for a third consecutive match at the Marassi.
Napoli responded to going behind by introducing Dries Mertens for Miguel Britos, with the Belgian international returning for the first time since being knocked unconscious in a clash of heads during the 0-0 draw with Wales.
Jorginho was also brought on for Inler as the Azzurri looked for an equaliser, while Nenad Krsticic replaced Soriano for the Blucerchiati.
Samp defended deep as their intensity dropped in the closing stages, and Jorginho miscued a half volley from a header across goal by Jose Callejon.
Marek Hamsik was sacrificed as Zapata was brought on to partner Higuain, and Gabbiadini replaced Luca Rizzo as both sides made their final substitutions.
Koulibaly was shown a second yellow card tripping Eder on 84 minutes, and set piece specialist Gabbiadini nearly beat Rafael at his near post from the resultant free kick.
Zapata rescued a point for Napoli in additional time heading in a cross from the left side by Ghoulam as he combined with Mertens.
The Colombian forward’s goal denied Sampdoria a first home victory against Napoli since the final day of the 2009-10 season as Giampaolo Pazzini headed home to secure a Champions League play-off place.
