Match ends, Napoli 5, Empoli 1.
NapoliNapoli5EmpoliEmpoli1
Napoli came from behind to thrash Empoli and restore their two-point lead at the top of Serie A.
Juventus went top earlier in the day by winning 4-0 at Chievo and had hopes of staying there when Leandro Paredes put Empoli in front.
Gonzalo Higuain headed the home side level from a cross by Lorenzo Insigne, whose lovely free-kick made it 2-1.
Michele Camporese's second-half own goal extended Napoli's lead before Jose Callejon struck twice late on.
Camporese, making his Empoli debut after signing from Fiorentina last July, turned Callejon's low cross into his own net.
Callejon converted a far-post cross from substitute Dries Mertens to make it four, then squeezed a shot between goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and his near post
Higuain's goal was his 22nd in 22 Serie A appearances this season, and helped his team to a sixth successive league win.
But the Argentina forward was taken off in the second half, seemingly as a precaution, after he appeared to injure his back in a collision with Skorupski.
Line-ups
Napoli
Formation 4-3-3
- 25ReinaBooked at 34mins
- 2HysajBooked at 39mins
- 33Albiol
- 26Koulibaly
- 31Ghoulam
- 5AllanBooked at 45mins
- 8Jorginho
- 17HamsikSubstituted forLópez Silvaat 86'minutes
- 7Callejón
- 9HiguaínSubstituted forGabbiadiniat 72'minutes
- 24InsigneSubstituted forMertensat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Barbosa
- 3Strinic
- 6Valdifiori
- 11Maggio
- 14Mertens
- 19López Silva
- 21Chiriches
- 22Vasconcellos Ferreira
- 23Gabbiadini
- 77El Kaddouri
- 94Chalobah
- 96Luperto
Empoli
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 28Skorupski
- 2Laurini
- 26TonelliBooked at 50mins
- 31Camporese
- 21Mário Rui
- 17ZielinskiBooked at 36mins
- 32Paredes
- 5SaponaraSubstituted forBüchelat 58'minutesBooked at 79mins
- 11CroceSubstituted forKrunicat 82'minutes
- 20Pucciarelli
- 7MaccaroneSubstituted forMchedlidzeat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Pugliesi
- 3Zambelli
- 6Bittante
- 9Mchedlidze
- 13Maiello
- 14Diousse
- 22Piu
- 23Pelagotti
- 24Cosic
- 33Krunic
- 39Livaja
- 77Büchel
- Referee:
- Davide Massa
- Attendance:
- 39,986
Match Stats
Home TeamNapoliAway TeamEmpoli
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away2
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Napoli 5, Empoli 1.
Goal!
Goal! Napoli 5, Empoli 1. José Callejón (Napoli) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dries Mertens with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mário Rui (Empoli) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Empoli. Conceded by Kalidou Koulibaly.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Piotr Zielinski (Empoli) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leandro Paredes.
Substitution
Substitution, Napoli. David López replaces Marek Hamsik.
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Elseid Hysaj (Napoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Manuel Pucciarelli (Empoli).
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Foul by Dries Mertens (Napoli).
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Lorenzo Tonelli (Empoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Napoli 4, Empoli 1. José Callejón (Napoli) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dries Mertens with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Empoli. Rade Krunic replaces Daniele Croce.
Post update
Hand ball by Marcel Büchel (Empoli).
Post update
Attempt saved. Marcel Büchel (Empoli) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Daniele Croce.
Booking
Marcel Büchel (Empoli) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Marek Hamsik (Napoli) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Marcel Büchel (Empoli).
Post update
Foul by Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli).
Post update
Daniele Croce (Empoli) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
