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Napoli beat Juventus to clinch Serie A top

Milan (dpa) - Napoli took the lead in the Italian Serie A late Saturday rallying to beat 2-1 a struggling Juventus side who conceded a second straight defeat. 

Napoli moved on to 14 points from seven games, but may lose the leadership Sunday as they hold a single-point lead over Lazio, Udinese, Inter Milan and Fiorentina, while Juve lag behind on nine points. 

At a San Paolo stadium without fans in the curves due to security reasons, Slovak midfielder Marek Hamsik and Argentinian Ezequiel Lavezzi reversed the score after Brazilian Amauri put the Turin guests one up with a great volley. 

As both sides studied each other early in the game, Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen on seven minutes fired a fast drive that became dangerous after Amauri deflected it inside the area, forcing a great save from the Napoli goalkeeper. 

There were no threats for Gennaro Iezzo as Pavel Nedved fired high off a good assist from Juve captain Alessandro Del Piero, nor when Amauri aimed two feeble headers. 

Austria's Alex Manninger made his first serious save on 22 minutes as Hamsik nodded by the first post before his colleague deflected a Del Piero free kick on 37 minutes. 

There was little thrill for the crowd at the San Paolo as the two sides battled mostly in midfield, but the game flared up on 61 minutes as Amauri fired home a wonderful volley connecting with a cross from Poulsen. 

It took Napoli only two minutes to equalize through a header from Hamsik off a great cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi that cut off Juve's uncertain defence. 

A further dithering on 80 minutes allowed Lavezzi to reverse the score as he pounced on a clearance and had the best of Juve's central defenders. 

Earlier Saturday, Fiorentina hammered Reggina 3-0 thanks to a brace from Alberto Gilardino to move on to 13 points. 

A mouthwatering match late Sunday pits struggling Roma against visiting champions Inter. 

Both Lazio and Udinese are away Sunday afternoon at promoted sides Bologna and Lecce, respectively, while 11-point Catania and Palermo, on 12, play a hot Sicily derby. dpa 


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