Partenopei goes clear at Serie A summit

Napoli has pulled clear of Lazio and Juventus at the top of Serie A as it brushed aside a limited Sassuolo outfit.

Napoli players celebrate after scoring a goal against Sassuolo

Napoli moved three points clear at the Serie A summit with a comfortable 3-1 win over struggling Sassuolo at Stadio San Paolo on Sunday.

Brazilian midfielder Allan opened the scoring midway through the first half for Maurizio Sarri's side before Diego Falcinelli scored an undeserved equaliser in the 41st minute.

Napoli's advantage was restored on the stroke of half-time as goalkeeper Andrea Consigli parried a corner into his own net to concede a goal that was attributed to Jose Callejon, before Dries Mertens ensured a 10th win in 11 league games with a second-half strike.

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Inter can move second and close the leader's advantage to two points if it wins against Hellas Verona on Monday, but it is the Partenopei who is setting a blistering early pace in the race for the Scudetto.

The visitor almost took a shock lead after just 11 minutes, but Stefano Sensi's whipped free-kick from the edge of the penalty area crashed back off Jose Reina's crossbar.

Sensi then played an unfortunate role in Napoli's opener in the 22nd minute. The midfielder took too long to clear on the edge of his own area and had his pocket picked by Allan, who coolly slotted through the legs of Consigli.

Faouzi Ghoulam came agonisingly close to extending the host's lead shortly after, thumping a half volley against the post after a corner fell kindly to him.

Sassuolo responded well to the setback and scored an unlikely leveller four minutes before the break. Matteo Politano delivered a teasing cross from the right and Falcinelli beat his marker to plant a firm header past Reina for his first goal of the season.

Their joy was short-lived, though, as Consigli conspired to punch Lorenzo Insigne's corner, which had glanced off the head of Callejon, into this own net just a minute before half-time to restore Napoli's lead.

Mertens' stunning form continued nine minutes into the second half as he bundled home Raul Albiol's knockdown for his 10th league goal of the campaign.

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Francesco Cassata thumped a header against the post as Sassuolo tried in vain to find a way back into the game, while substitute Piotr Zielinski was denied a fourth late on for Sarri's side as his long-range effort hit both posts before being scooped up by Consigli, who also saw an injury-time strike from Mertens flash narrowly wide.