Napoli's lead at the top of the Serie A table has been cut to just one point after a narrow defeat against reigning champions Juventus at the Stadio San Paolo.

The Bianconeri, who started the game four points behind Gli Azzurri, took the lead with their first meaningful attack of the game after Paulo Dybala was able to slide a pinpoint ball into the feet of his fellow countryman Higuain, and the former Napoli man managed to beat Pepe Reina from the edge of the box.

Napoli, who were looking to protect an unbeaten run in Serie A, almost got back on level terms after 18 minutes when Marek Hamsik's fierce drive was punched away by Gianluigi Buffon.

The hosts were gifted another chance to equalise just after the half-hour mark when Lorenzo Insigne capitalised on Giorgio Chiellini's mistake, but his 25-yard strike was parried away by Buffon.

The Neapolitans continued to press for a goal after the break when Dries Mertens played Lorenzo Insigne into a shooting position only for his effort to be comfortably gathered by Buffon.

Napoli thought that they had a case for a penalty with a quarter of the game left to play after Mertens fell to the ground under pressure from Chiellini, but his appeals were waved away.

Juventus almost added a second in the latter stages after Miralem Pjanic's teasing cross found Blaise Matuidi, but the French midfielder was denied at close range by Reina.

In the end, Juve snuffed out any late hopes of a Napoli revival to end their opponents' unbeaten domestic run and close the gap at the top of Serie A.