Napoli have moved three points clear of Fiorentina in the chase for a Champions League spot after coming from behind to beat AC Milan 3-1 at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples in Serie A.
Gonzalo Higuain tested Christian Abbiati early on with a good header, which the veteran keeper did well to get down and catch.
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In a frantic start to the contest, Adel Taarabt fired Milan into the lead, slotting the ball past Pepe Reina into the bottom corner of the net after being given too much space in the Napoli area.
Moments later the hosts were level, as Gohkan Inler unleashed an ambitious strike towards goal which looped over Abbiati, taking a deflection off Nigel de Jong on the way.
Higuain came close to giving his side the lead after cutting inside from the right and hitting a shot from distance, but it whistled just inches wide of the post.
Marek Hamsik also came close to adding Napoli's second, but his volley ended up going over the crossbar as the teams went into the interval level.
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Ten minutes after the restart, Rafael Benitez's side took the lead when Inler crossed for Higuain to head past a helpless Abbiati to make it 2-1.
Any hopes of Clarence Seedorf's men rescuing a point were ended when Higuain added a third for Napoli, as substitute Jose Callejon pulled the ball back for the former Real Madrid man to fire home.
Daniel Lewis
