An early strike from Gonzalo Higuain is all that separates Napoli and Roma at the halfway stage of a close Serie A contest.

It took the hosts just three minutes to open the scoring, the prolific Argentine striker gaining possession inside the box and making no mistake with his reliable right foot.

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Napoli came within inches of doubling their lead following a swift break in the 12th minute, a move that ended with Jose Callejon crashing an effort against the visitors' crossbar.

Roma had several chances to level the match before half time, with Vasilis Torosidis finding Napoli goalkeeper Rafael in good form and Francesco Totti failing to find the target from outside the box.

The post came to the visitors' rescue moments before the break as Higuain picked out Marek Hamsik in the box and the Slovak rattled the upright, but there is everything to play for in the second period.