Napoli dropped further points in the race for the Serie A title by suffering a 3-1 loss against Palermo this evening.
The Partenopei had won their last four league encounters coming into this game to keep alive their faint hopes of catching Juventus at the top, but they now find themselves nine points off the summit, having played one game more than the leaders.
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It was the visitors who created the first real opening when Jonathan de Guzman tested Stefano Sorrentino with a powerful volley which the keeper managed to keep out.
Palermo took the lead in bizarre circumstances, with Achraf Lazaar's shot to nothing from more than 30 yards out squirming through the hands of Rafael and into the back of the net.
Francesco Bolzoni and De Guzman both came close to finding the second goal, which eventually arrived 10 minutes before the interval courtesy of Franco Vazquez's first-time shot from the edge of the box.
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Rafael had to be fully alert to deny the Argentine midfielder from adding another from similar range shortly after, although Vazquez did play a big part in his side's third goal as he headed a cross into the path of Luca Rigoni to tap home from close range.
Manolo Gabbiadini did manage to pull one back for Rafael Benitez's men seven minutes from time by catching out Stefano Sorrentino with his flicked header, but the Eagles safely saw out the remainder of the contest to claim all three points.
The win lifts them to within two points of Sampdoria, who currently occupy the final European berth in the Serie A table.
Daniel Lewis
