Napoli have denied AC Chievo Verona a surprise win with a late equaliser in their Serie A match this evening.
The hosts controlled possession early on and Dries Mertens could have given them the lead with 12 minutes played, but his header went narrowly over the crossbar.
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Chievo made the most of that miss by going 1-0 ahead shortly after. Cyril Thereau passed the ball to Gennaro Sardo, who fired into the top corner from close range.
Jose Callejon made space in the box as Napoli pushed for an equaliser, but his effort went wide of the post.
With 10 minutes left in the first half, Mertens received the ball in the box and crashed a shot against the post.
Raul Albiol latched onto a cross early in the second half, but he was unable to find the target as Rafael Benitez's men pushed their opponents back.
Mertens was extremely unlucky as he again hit the post direct from a free kick.
With time running out, the hosts hit the woodwork for the third time as Lorenzo Insigne fired a shot against the bar.
However, they finally broke Chievo's resistance with two minutes left. Albiol pounced on a loose ball and slotted it past the goalkeeper.
Gary Peters
