A brace apiece from Gokhan Inler and Edinson Cavani helped Napoli demolish Serie A basement side Pescara 5-1 to keep them second behind champions and leaders Juventus on Sunday.
Napoli's 10th win of the season put Walter Mazzarri's side on 33 points, two adrift of Juventus who routed 10-man Torino 3-0 in the 'Derby della Mole' on Saturday.
Cavani's double allowed the Uruguayan to take his league tally to 10 for the campaign and close the gap to Stephan El Shaarawy, who took his haul to 12 with a brace in AC Milan's 3-1 away win in Catania Friday.
Swiss midfielder Inler started the rout with a ninth-minute strike from the edge of the area that gave Pescara 'keeper Mattia Perin no chance.
Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik doubled Napoli's lead after some fine control in a crowded box to score from close range on the quarter hour.
Napoli were pegged back a few minutes later when Icelander Birkir Bjarnason rose to meet a cross from the right to beat Morgan De Sanctis with a glancing header.
Napoli moved up a gear in the second half and despite Pescara's best effort were soon back in front.
Cavani was fouled as he danced around the Pescara defence just before the hour and stepped up to convert the spotkick. Defender Antonio Bocchetti was shown a straight red card for the foul.
He added his second five minutes later after first-timing Hamsik's square ball from inside the area into the roof of the net.
Pescara's 10th defeat of the season left the league newcomers bottom with 11 points from 15 games.
Source: AFP
