Napoli have failed to close the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus after letting a two-goal lead slip in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Cagliari this afternoon.

The hosts took the lead in the 11th minute through Gonzalo Higuain, who latched onto Faouzi Ghoulam's long throw-in before running clear to slot the ball past the keeper.

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On the half-hour mark, Gokhan Inler doubled Napoli's lead with a powerful drive from range that swerved into the bottom left corner of the net.

Victor Ibarbo pulled a goal back for the visitors eight minutes later when he was picked out inside the box by Antonio Balzano to fire a strike past Rafael.

Within two minutes of the second half, Cagliari were back on level terms as Diego Farias arrived at the back post to nod Luca Rossettini's header across goal into the net.

Marek Hamsik had a chance to immediately restore Napoli's lead, but he blazed an effort high over the crossbar after bursting into the box.

It was the visitors who wasted a big chance to go in front next, as Farias was played through on goal and saw his low strike tipped wide of the post by Rafael.

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In the 62nd minute, Napoli made their opponents pay for that miss by scoring their third of the match. Cristian Maggio swung in a deep cross from the right that Jonathan de Guzman met to steer a header into the corner.

Cagliari fought back and they levelled again five minutes later when Farias tapped home past the keeper following a Ibarbo cross.

In stoppage time, Farias almost scored a fourth for Cagliari when he cut inside from the left and drilled a shot just wide of the far post.

Hamsik then fired wide from range at the other end, in what turned out to be the last chance of an entertaining clash.