Napoli went into Monday's Serie A clash with Udinese at the Stadio Friuli knowing that a win would keep the pressure on league leaders Juventus.
The visitors had the better chances on the night, but they were unable to make the breakthrough as Udinese settled for a well-earned point with a 0-0 draw.
The stalemate saw Juventus stretch their lead over Napoli at the top of the table to six points, while Udinese now sit seven points off the European places.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the action unfolded.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of tonight's Serie A clash between Udinese and Napoli at the Stadio Friuli.
Both of these sides have been in indifferent form as of late - Udinese winning three and losing three of their last six matches, while Napoli have failed to claim a victory in any of their previous five outings.
UDINESE: Padelli; Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi; Basta, Pereyra, Allan, Badu, Pasquale; Muriel, Di Natale
NAPOLI: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Britos; Mesto, Behrami, Inler, Hamsik, Armero; Insigne, Cavani
It's a big night for three of the Napoli lineup as they come up against their former club. Morgan De Sanctis, Gokhan Inler and Pablo Armero all used to ply their trade with the Bianconeri.
Udinese's recent form has seen them slip down to ninth place in the Serie A table, but a win tonight would see them move to within five points of the European places.
However, Napoli are also in need of the points as they look to keep the pressure on league leaders Juventus. Walter Mazzarri's side are currently seven points off the champions after Juve saw off Siena 3-0 on the weekend.
If Napoli do win this evening then a date to put in your diary is Friday March 1 as they welcome Juventus to the Stadio San Paolo. All going to plan, that could be a huge match in the context of the title race.
That said, Juventus could have moved out of sight by then. From a neutral's point of view, here's hoping that they haven't...
Right, with a little over five minutes until this one gets underway, how do we see it going? Despite the inconsistent form of both these sides in recent weeks I don't think you can look much further than a Napoli win. The pressure is on them to get what would be their first victory in five games but that could well work in their favour.
Here come the players. The Stadio Friuli isn't exactly bursting with people but those that are here are giving a good account of themselves.
Here come the players. The Stadio Friuli isn't exactly bursting with people but those that are here are giving a good account of themselves.
Here come the players. The Stadio Friuli isn't exactly bursting with people but those that are here are giving a good account of themselves.
Napoli have won the toss and they will get us underway in this one...
Only a couple of minutes gone, but Napoli have started strongly. They pinned Udinese back into the corner from the first whistle, but a foul from Cavani gives the hosts possession.
CHANCE! First sight of goal in the match and it goes to Udinese. Pasquale took advantage of some naive defending from Mesto before dragging his shot wide.
CHANCE! Opportunity at the other end almost instantly falls for Insigne. The striker was lurking at the back post, but he was a matter of inches away from getting on the end of Armero's cross.
CHANCE! Opportunity at the other end almost instantly falls for Insigne. The striker was lurking at the back post, but he was a matter of inches away from getting on the end of Armero's cross.
It's not been a bad start to this one. Both teams are looking to get forward as soon as they get the ball and we could easily have had two goals in the opening few minutes.
That's not pretty from Inler. The midfielder's eyes lit up when he picked the ball up about 25 yards from goal, only to blast a poor effort well over the bar and into the empty stand.
Good work from Di Natale there as the veteran wins the ball down in the right corner. He shows great persistence to gain possession, but his cross loops into the arms of De Sanctis.
Good opening there for Napoli. Armero's floated cross in headed down by Cavani in the hope that Hamsik was running into the area to shoot. However, his teammate is nowhere to be seen and Udinese clear.
CHANCE! It's an outlandish effort from Di Natale that goes narrowly over the crossbar. The striker collected the ball in the area before turning on a sixpence to lash the ball off target. That would have been some goal.
BOOKING: Pereyra really is a silly boy. The Udinese midfielder uses his hand to try and win his side possession and picks up a yellow card for his troubles. Seconds later and it's Inler who goes into the book for his cynical foul on Muriel.
Napoli striker Insigne goes down in the area and the referee is having none of it. He got a slight kick on his calf, but his reaction is similar to a man who has been shot. Repeatedly.
Midway through this first half and both sides have taken their feet off the gas. Napoli look threatening with their three-pronged attack, but it's Udinese who have created the better openings.
There's a real lack of shape to this game now. The two teams are struggling to keep hold of the ball, while the play is mainly centred down the middle of the park. The best chances of the half have come from wide positions so it's a surprise that the sides aren't trying to find the flanks a bit more.
SUBSTITUTION: Udinese are forced into an early change as Benatia comes off for Heurteaux. The defender doesn't look to be in too much discomfort, but it seems like he has a bit of a knock.
CHANCE! A decent opening comes Napoli's way as Insigne threads a pass through to Hamsik in the area. However, the midfielder gets the ball stuck under his feet, allowing a number of Udinese defenders to win possession and play themselves out of trouble.
Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri, who looks like on of the Baldwin brothers, comes to the edge of his technical area to suggest that one of his players was elbowed during a previous spell of play. Not too sure what he saw, but the referee is doing nothing about it.
SAVE! Wonderful chance for Napoli to open the scoring, but Padelli keeps the scores level. Armero, who has been a danger out on the left, crosses for Hamsik. The midfielder thinks that he's nodded his side in front, only for the Udinese shotstopper to get down and push the ball away. Clearest opportunity of the match by a mile.
Half an opening for the hosts as Basta heads down in the area, but De Sanctis comes off his line quickly to claim the ball.
Napoli look the hungrier as this half enters the final five minutes. They're looking fairly comfortable in possession at the moment as Udinese sit deep to defend.
CHANCE! Just as I write that Di Natale bursts clear at the other end to shoot over the bar. The ball bobbled at the vital moment after the striker had forced himself wider than he would have liked.
Just the one minute of added time...
HALF TIME: UDINESE 0-0 NAPOLI
The referee blows the whistle to end what was a fairly stodgy first half of football. Napoli were the better side during that opening 45 minutes and they should have taken the lead but for Padelli's save from Hamsik's header. However, Udinese are still in this one.
There was a definite lack of invention from both sides during that half. It all got a bit narrow during the final 10 minutes, despite some earlier chances having been created out wide.
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If that's more your thing then you can follow that one right here.
Here we go then, Udinese will get this second half underway...
No changes for either side at the start of this second period.
Napoli threaten the Udinese goal as Armero's deep cross finds Mesto, but the winger's attempt to hook it back into the danger zone sees the ball go out for a goal kick.
MISS! How has Pereyra not scored? Di Natale's deflected shot falls to the midfielder, who somehow scoops the ball over from six yards. Despite the fact that the ball may have been rising slightly, he should have at least hit the target.
CHANCE! Napoli nearly take the lead after some lovely interplay between Cavani and Insigne sees the ball fall for Hamsik about 10 yards out, but he can only shoot over.
Now it's Udinese who are starting to take control of this one. They're first to every ball in midfield and there's now a bit of creativity to what they're doing.
SUBSTITUTION: Napoli make their first change of the night as Pandev replaces Inler, who doesn't look to happy with the decision. Cometh the hour?..
Pandev has only been on the field for a few minutes, but he gives away a free kick in a dangerous position out wide with a foul on Basta. However, Udinese decide to play it across midfield, allowing Napoli to regroup. Di Natale eventually gets the ball out wide, only to see his cross caught by De Sanctis.
BOOKING: Armero wants a penalty, but he instead gets a yellow card for diving. The winger drove into the area before throwing himself to the ground under a challenge. Not good to see.
MISS! How are Napoli not in front? Armero again whizzes down the left side before squaring to Cavani. The league's top scorer hasn't been in the best form as of late and his drought continues as he puts his shot wide from close range. He had to stretch for it, but you would have expected him to score.
Incidentally, Cavani came into this match without a goal in his last five games. Before then, he had scored 12 times in 10 appearances.
Just over 15 minutes of normal time to play in this one and it's Napoli who look the more likely to get the opening goal at the moment. They certainly need it - as it stands, Juventus are six points clear at the top of the table.
SUBSTITUTION: That the end of Di Natale's contribution for the night. The veteran striker, who has worked his socks off, comes off for Maicosuel.
It's all got a little bit scrappy at the Stadio Friuli. Both teams are giving away plenty of needless free kicks now as the game enters the final 10 minutes. Dare I say that this has got 0-0 written all over it? You wouldn't have thought it at the start of the evening, but it looks like it's heading that way.
As before, Napoli look like they want this more than Udinese, but there hasn't been a decent chance since the Cavani miss. For all of their possession, the visitors are not looking very dangerous at the moment.
SUBSTITUTION: It's Napoli who make the change now as Cannavaro is replaced by Dzemaili.
SUBSTITUTION: Napoli make their final swap of the evening with Zuniga coming on for Mesto.
There will be three minutes of added time. The referee has taken some mercy with that one.
We're heading into the final minute of what has been a pretty poor game of football.
FULL TIME: UDINESE 0-0 NAPOLI
The full-time whistle goes to end what has been a woefully dull goalless draw between Udinese and Napoli. Chances were few and far bbetween at the Stadio Friuli, but the visitors will feel like they should have taken the points thanks to two glorious opportunities for Hamsik and Cavani. Meanwhile, Udinese's charge for European football has taken a blow with the stalemate. However, the real winners tonight are Juventus who not sit six points clear at the top of the table.
Anyway, that's all from me tonight, but don't forget that you can catch our live text commentary of the Premier League clash between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur which is just about to get underway. You can find that one here. Thanks again and enjoy your evening. Goodnight!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
