Napoli cut the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus to 10 points on Monday thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Sampdoria.
The hosts took the lead on 52 minutes when Dries Mertens got on the end of Gonzalo Higuain's cross to put the ball past Angelo da Costa in the Sampdoria net.
Mertens then sealed the victory for Napoli on the hour as he managed to find the net with a low free kick.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the action unfolded at the Stadio San Paolo.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's early kickoff Serie A encounter as Napoli entertain Sampdoria.
Napoli will be desperate to close the gap on leaders Juventus to 10 points today after the reigning champions earned a 3-0 win at home to Roma last night. Meanwhile, Sampdoria can ease their relegation fears with their first triumph at the Stadio San Paolo since 1998. The visitors are currently four points above the drop zone.
NAPOLI: Rafael; Maggio, Fernandez, Albiol, Reveillere; Inler, Dzemaili; Mertens, Callejon, Insigne; Higuain
SAMPDORIA: Da Costa; De Silvestri, Mustafi, Gastaldello, Regini; Obiang, Palombo; Gabbiadini, Krsticic, Soriano; Eder
NAPOLI SUBS: Contini, Colombo, Uvini, Bariti, Pandev, Radosevic, Armero, D Zapata
SAMPDORIA SUBS: Fiorillo, Costa, Renan, Rodriguez, Pozzi, Sansone, Wszolek, Bjarnason, Maresca
Anyway, back to business. Napoli are currently on an unbeaten run of five games in all competitions, with three wins from their last four matches in Serie A. Sampdoria have failed to taste defeat in their previous six matches, picking up two victories in their last three fixtures.
RECENT FORM:
NAPOLI: LWDWWD
SAMPDORIA: DDWWWD
Napoli come into this match on the back of a 1-1 draw at Cagliari before the winter break, while Sampdoria drew 1-1 at home to Parma.
The players are starting to emerge inside the tunnel at the Stadio San Paolo as we esge closer to kick off. Around five minutes to go until this one gets underway.
KICKOFF: The pre-match handshakes have been done and it will be Sampdoria to kick us off for this Serie A clash. For those who are interested, it's a bright and chilly day in southern Italy. Here we go!
It's been a positive start from the home side as they look to get the upper hand early on. Higuain links well with Mertens, but the latter can only scuff a weak shot towards goal that Costa easily saves.
Sampdoria have set themselves up very defensively so far, opting for caution over adventure. Who can blame them? Napoli have a wealth of attacking options and they are already looking to stretch their opponents with some expansive play across both flanks.
Something of a half-chance there for Mertens as he leads a quick Napoli counter-attack. However, he chooses to shoot from distance depsite having men up with him and his effort goes straight into the hands of Costa. A little more composure there and we could have had the first goal.
CHANCE! Mertens again! He pops up on the left side before cutting onto his right foot, but his low strike is kept out at the near post by Costa. It's been a bit of a personal battle between these two during the opening few minutes.
CHANCE! What an opportunity for Napoli! The ball is whipped in from the right side, allowing Higuain to fire an effort on the volley towards goal from close range. However, Costa is there to keep it out with a point-blank save. Great reflexes from the goalkeeper.
This is all very worrying from a Sampdoria perspective. The visitors are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment as Napoli crank up the pressure. It seems like only a matter of time before Rafa Benitez's side get their noses in front.
While Napoli are looking very strong, Sampdoria aren't doing themselves any favours as they continue to give the ball away in midfield. That's proving dangerous because Napoli can break with such pace and dynamism. The hosts are still firmly on top.
The visitors put together a rare attacking move before Gabbiadini's effort from the edge of the box is comfortably saved by Rafael. Not the best strike, but it could give Sampdoria a bit of encouragement in this match.
Woeful goalkeeping from Costa there as his kick goes straight to the opposition. Callejon then finds Mertens, but he shoots wide from about 20 yards. Sampdoria continue to be their own worst enemies. If they want to get a foothold in this game then they need to start keeping the ball a lot better. Still, it remains goalless.
CHANCE! Close for Napoli! Callejon bobs and weaves on the edge of the penalty area before curling a shot narrowly wide of the Sampdoria goal. The summer signing from Real Madrid showed great skill there as he took on the visiting defence.
CHANCE! Now it's Sampdoria who nearly score against the run of play! Krsticic receives the ball in the area before rounding goalkeeper Rafael, but he overruns it and a goal kick is given. A slightly defter touch there and the visitors could have found themselves in front.
That opportunity for Krsticic seems to have given Sampdoria a bit of a boost. The visitors are looking slightly more confident now following that blistering start from Napoli. They're keeping possession better while daring to venture into the opposition half.
CHANCES! Mertens tries his luck again, this time from 30 yards as his shot is collected at the second time of asking by Costa. Napoli then go on the attack moments later, but Higuain can only fire wide of goal from a tight angle. The hosts must be wondering what they have to do to score at the moment.
Not a bad effort that from Eder as he hits a difficult volley towards the Napoli goal that flies high over the crossbar. The ball was behind him when he hit it so full marks for technique.
YELLOW CARD: The first booking of the match goes to Sampdoria's Pedro Obiang for a deliberate handball. The midfielder will now miss his side's next game.
Sampdoria create another opportunity as the half reaches its climax, this time with Eder hitting a shot straight at Rafael after Obiang's deflected effort had fallen into his path. Sinisa Mihajlovic will be pleased with how his players have kept Napoli largely at bay while working themselves into the rhythm of the match.
YELLOW CARD: Another booking for Sampdoria now as Vasco Regini is penalised for a late challenge on Blerim Dzemaili.
YELLOW CARD: Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain goes into the book for dissent. The hosts are getting a bit frustrated as the half reaches the final stages.
HALF TIME: NAPOLI 0-0 SAMPDORIA
The half-time whistle goes and it's goalless between Napoli and Sampdoria at the break. The hosts had the better chances during the opening 45 minutes, but Sampdoria showed enough to give the home side a bit to worry about.
Higuain, Mertens and Callejon have all looked dangerous for the hosts, but some wayward finishing has been their undoing so far. Still, Rafa Benitez is likely to be too worried knowing that his team has another 45 minutes to get the win that they need.
As it stands, Napoli will move to within 12 points of leaders Juventus while Sampdoria will climb five points clear of the relegation zone. You can take a look at the projected table here.
Despite that being a half of frustration for Napoli, the home side showed plenty of attacking intent to give them hope of getting the three points. However, the long it remains goalless, the more they are likely to look to the bench for a bit of inspiration. Meanwhile, Sampdoria will probably be very happy indeed to come away from the Stadio San Paolo with a draw.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The players are back out and it will be Napoli to kick us off for this second half.
CHANCE! It's been a busy start to the half from Sampdoria as Eder twists and turns inside the box before seeing his shot saved by Rafael. Promising stuff from the visitors.
SUBSTITUTION: Bad news for Napoli as Anthony Reveillere is forced off with what looks like a leg injury. Pablo Armero comes on in his place.
GOAL! NAPOLI 1-0 SAMPDORIA (MERTENS)
We have the opening goal and it's Dries Mertens who gives Napoli the lead! Higuain found some space down the right to fire in a low cross, and there was Mertens to hit a first time finish past Costa at the near post. Clinical football from the home side.
The Napoli fans have been in fine voice all afternoon, but that goal has really cranked up the atmosphere inside the Stadio San Paolo. Rafa Benitez's side should really have found the net during the first half, but now they have something to build on. One gets the feeling that they won't be sitting back on this lead.
OFF THE WOODWORK! So close for Sampdoria as Gabbiadini sees his shot hit the crossbar and then come back off the line before Napoli go up the other end and force a corner. However, the visitors do enough to clear the danger.
YELLOW CARD: Sampdoria's Shkodran Mustafi goes into the book for barging Mertens off the ball as Napoli looked to break. It's all very frantic at the moment.
GOAL! NAPOLI 2-0 SAMPDORIA (MERTENS)
Napoli now lead 2-0 as Mertens finds the net for a second time! He stood over the resulting free kick following Mustafi's foul and was able to curl it into the bottom corner and beyond the reach of Costa. Is there any way back for the visitors now?
The home side are looking rampant now as they go in search of a third goal. Sampdoria aren't being allowed any time on the ball as Napoli hustle with plenty of conviction.
SUBSTITUTION: Sampdoria make a change as Gianluca Sansone replaces Roberto Soriano.
Sampdoria show signs of life as Obiang takes aim from about 25 yards, but his effort goes straight into the hands of Rafael. Napoli then go up the other end thanks to a quick counter-attack, though Insigne can only blaze the ball over the crossbar when he really should have done better.
SUBSTITUTION: Another change for Sampdoria here as Andrea Costa enters the action in place of Vasco Regini.
Fifteen minutes of normal time left at the Stadio San Paolo and it would take something of a miracle for Napoli not to win this game. They've been the far better team today, and could easily have a couple more goals to their name but for some poor finishing during the first half.
CHANCE! Mertens is in the thick of the action again as his corner is met by the head of Inler, but the defender puts his effort wide from close range.
SUBSTITUTION: Gonzalo Higuain leaves the field to a great ovation from the Napoli fans as Duvan Zapate is brought on by Rafa Benitez. Sampdoria also make a change, with Nenad Krsticic coming off for Nicola Pozzi.
OFF THE POST! Nearly an instant goal for Pozzi as his effort hits one post and then the other before Napoli deal with the danger. How unlucky for the visitors! A goal there really could have set up a thrilling finale to this match.
YELLOW CARD: Napoli's Duvan Zapata now goes into the book after shoving Andrea Costa to the ground. Ten minutes left to play.
SUBSTITUTION: Napoli's final swap of ther afternoon sees Jose Callejon withdrawn in place of Croatian teenager Josip Radosevic.
Napoli are just happy to let the clock run down now as they edge closer to a third win in five matches. Credit to Sampdoria, who aren't giving up, but a result looks beyond them.
CHANCE! Almost a third goal for Napoli as Insigne checks back onto his right foot from the edge of the box, but his shot curls inches wide of the far post. That would have been the icing on the cake for the hosts.
Four of minutes added time at the end of this match...
FULL TIME: NAPOLI 2-0 SAMPDORIA
The referee blows the full-time whistle and Napoli have closed the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus to 10 points thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Sampdoria. Dries Mertens converted Gonzalo Higuain's cross on 52 minutes to give the hosts the lead before doubling their advantage with a free kick just after the hour.
Anyway, that's all from me but don't forget that we have live text coverage of AC Milan vs. Atalanta and Catania vs. Bologna (both 2pm KOs) right here on Sports Mole this afternoon. Thanks for your company and enjoy the rest of your day. Goodbye!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
