Inter Milan have put a major dent into Napoli's title hopes by running out 2-0 winners over Maurizio Sarri's side at San Siro this evening.
First-half strikes from Mauro Icardi and Marcelo Brozovic were enough to lift the hosts to within three points of the Champions League places, while leaving Napoli still six behind leaders Juventus with only five games of the season remaining.
© AFP
It took just four minutes for Roberto Mancini's side to break the deadlock as Icardi beat the offside trap to latch on to Gary Medel's lofted ball forward in the area before lifting his finish past Pepe Reina in the visiting goal.
It was all too easy for the home side, but that would not prove to be a feature of the first half as both sides struggled to create clear goalscoring opportunities.
However, Reina was once again left exposed right on the stroke of half time as Icardi turned provider by lifting a pass into the path of Brozovic, who kept his composure to chip a finish over the keeper and into the far corner.
© AFP
The second half proved to be a similarly tight affair as Napoli showed very few signs of being able to drag themselves back into the match and maintain their improved form of late.
Indeed, it was the hosts who came closest to adding further to the scoreline when Stevan Jovetic picked up a loose ball from a rebound, only to see his effort blocked before he could call Reina into action.
Neither side could get the game's third goal as the contest petered out, however, with Inter returning to winning ways at home to keep the pressure on third-placed Roma.
Barney Corkhill
