Mertens floats the ball to the back post and Maggio rises to head at goal, but his effort is comfortably saved by Buffon.
The referee ends the contest.
90' +3
Reina comes forward for the corner, but the delivery from Callejon is poor once again and Juve are able to see off the threat.
90' +2
Maggio drills the ball into the box and Mertens tries to latch on to the cross, but Chiellini is able to clear behind for a corner.
90'
It's desperation time now for the home side. They need a moment of magic from someone.
There will be four minutes of added time.
88'
Hysaj raids down the left and he fires the ball back to the edge of the box, but he cannot pick out a team-mate, allowing the visitors to clear the danger.
87'
Maggio lifts a cross to the back post aiming for the run of Callejon, but he overhits his delivery and the ball goes out for a goal-kick.
85'
Ounas has a probe down the right flank and he wins a corner off the legs of Asamoah. Napoli need a quality delivery here.
Higuain rises in the box to head clear the resulting corner and another opportunity goes begging for the home side.
84'
A. Barzagli enters the game and replaces M. De Sciglio.
De Sciglio makes way for Barzagli.
83'
OFFSIDE! Jorginho threads the ball through to Mertens in the box, but his low drive is well saved by Buffon at the near post. The forward had strayed offside anyway in the build-up.
82'
Napoli continue to dominate possession, but the defensive resilience from the visitors has been outstanding to hold firm for the entire second half.
Minute
Description
80'
Callejon breaks into space down the left flank and he tries to lift the ball back across the face of goal, but De Sciglio blocks the cross back into the path of Buffon.
79'
J. Cuadrado enters the game and replaces Douglas Costa.
Cuadrado replaces Douglas Costa for the visitors.
78'
Jorginho is trying to float the ball over Benatia and Chiellini in the middle of the line, but the execution has been poor from the midfielder, allowing the two defenders to clear with ease.
76'
C. Maggio enters the game and replaces Mário Rui.
A. Ounas enters the game and replaces L. Insigne.
Rui is withdrawn for Maggio.
Ounas replaces Insigne for Napoli.
75'
Buffon takes a chance at the back as he tries to clear Hysaj's cross into the box. He goes for the clearance on the slide to edge ahead of Insigne, but it deflects back of Benatia. However, the keeper is bailed out for an offside decision against Insigne.
73'
WIDE! Insigne should level the scores! Zielinski picks out Insigne on the left flank and he goes for the strike on his left foot as De Sciglio affords the forward space and time to shoot. However, he puts his effort inches wide of the far post. So close for Napoli.
72'
Higuain has space and time on the right flank to whip a cross into the box, but he gets his delivery all wrong, sending the ball out for a goal-kick.
70'
The home side are beginning to feel frustration about their lack of success in the final third. They've probed away for weaknesses, but have not come close to finding a breakthrough.
68'
WHAT A SAVE! Reina makes an incredible save to deny Matuidi from close range. Pjanic lifts a teasing delivery to the back post on the left flank and Matuidi takes the ball out of the air with a powerful strike. The Frenchman belts the ball into the ground, but the keeper reacts to turn his strike over the bar.
67'
C. Marchisio enters the game and replaces S. Khedira.
P. Zieliński enters the game and replaces Allan.
WIDE! Hysaj squeezes a cross through a crowd of players into the box, but Insigne - not expecting the delivery - can only clip his effort wide of the post.
Zielinski replaces Allan for the home side.
Marchisio replaces Khedira for the visitors.
65'
PENALTY SHOUT! Mertens goes down in the box under presssure from Chiellini and the forward looks to the referee for a spot-kick. However, the official turns down his appeal for a penalty.
64'
Juve are making life incredibly difficult for Napoli to move the ball in tight space in and around the penalty area. Their discipline has been outstanding at the back.
63'
Hamsik wastes a promising position on the edge of the box as his pass goes astray looking for the run of Insigne.
61'
Napoli build down the right and Hysaj fires a low ball towards the near post. Callejon almost manages to latch on to the cross, but he can only clip it behind from a tight angle under pressure from Buffon.
59'
Mário Rui gets yellow.
Rui pulls back Douglas Costa and goes into the book.
57'
Juve have been encamped on the edge of their own box since the start of the second half and are in desperate need of an out-ball to relieve the pressure.
55'
CLOSE! Napoli continue to probe and Callejon latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the box before firing at goal. His effort flies through the legs of two Juve defenders, but just goes past the post.
54'
SAVE! Mertens steers the ball into the path of Insigne on the edge of the box, but the Italian fires his effort straight into the arms of Buffon.
53'
Callejon tries to sneak in at the back post to latch on to Insigne's cross, but Chiellini is there ahead of the forward to clear the ball to safety.
52'
The home side keep the pressure on and Rui goes down in the box as he tries to latch on to Koulibaly's lofted pass, but the referee awards a foul against the full-back for dragging down Asamoah.
50'
Napoli are continuing to dominate possession and it's a test of resilience at the back for the visitors.
48'
Rui and Insigne combine down the left, but Douglas Costa does brilliantly at the back for the visitors to slide and stop the cross from the full-back.
47'
Mertens has space to send a low cross into the box, but the ball deflects off De Sciglio and bounces into the hands of Buffon.
46'
We're back underway at the Stadio San Paolo.
45' +2
The referee ends the first half.
45' +1
D. Mertens gets yellow.
Mertens tries to twist and turn in the penalty area, but he sees his low strike blocked by Chiellini.
Mertens catches Pjanic late and goes into the book.
45'
There will be two minutes of added time.
Rui breaks down the left from the restart, but his delivery is poor and Benatia is able to head clear without being challenged in the box.
44'
Khedira is down on the pitch and requires treatment before we can continue.
43'
Allan wins possession for the home side and Mertens takes the ball forward to the edge of the box. He spreads it wide, but Insigne goes for the first-time strike and fires the ball straight at Buffon. A poor effort from the Italian.
40'
Koulibaly displays his pace at the back as he beats Pjanic to Higuain's throughball to clear the danger for the home side.
39'
OVER! Albiol gives the ball straight to Dybala on the half-way line. The forward weaves his way forward before shooting on the edge of the box. However, he lifts his strike narrowly over the bar - a let-off for Albiol.
38'
Callejon lifts a decent cross into the box from a corner on the right. Chiellini heads clear, but only as far as Allan on the edge. The midfielder has space to strike, only to smash his half-volley well over the bar.
36'
SAVE! Insigne turns 25 yards from goal and tries to catch out Buffon with an early strike, but the keeper makes a comfortable save.
34'
Napoli are starting to exert pressure on the visitors, but their final ball has been the issue in and around the penalty area.
32'
SAVE & OVER! Insigne flicks the ball on at the near post from the resulting corner, forcing Buffon into a reaction stop. The veteran keeper pushes the ball out only as far as Albiol. He goes for the volley, but blazes his strike over the bar. A poor effort from the Spaniard.
31'
Rui breaks forward down the left and he has space to lift a cross into the box. However, he gets his delivery all wrong as the ball goes straight out for a throw-in.
SAVE! Chiellini gives the ball straight to Insigne 25 yards from goal. The forward goes for the drive towards the top corner, but Buffon gets across to turn the ball past the post.
30'
BLOCK! Hamsik tries to go for goal from distance once again, but this time Asamoah does well on the edge of the box to make the block. Juve have been outstanding defensively thus far.
28'
Insigne and De Sciglio battle for the ball in the box and the Juve defender raises his boot to clear his lines. Insigne goes down, but the referee waves play on.
27'
The pace of the game has not dropped since the opening minute. Both teams have impressed with the ball, although the visitors have been clinical on the counter.
25'
Space opens up for Douglas Costa down the right flank as he cuts inside to shoot on his left foot, but he fires a tame effort straight at Reina.
23'
BLOCK! The end-to-end nature of the game continues as Hysaj surges down the right. The full-back goes for the strike, but sees his effort diverted behind by a good block from Benatia.
22'
G. Chiellini gets yellow.
Juve break with speed through Dybala and he slides the ball to Higuain. The Argentine tries to drill the ball across the face of goal, only to be denied by Albiol.
Chiellini is booked for a loose challenge.
OVER! From the resulting corner, the ball deflects kindly for Benatia at the back post. He tries to turn quickly and fire at goal on the half-volley, only to blast his effort over the bar.
21'
Hamsik leads his side forward and picks out Callejon on the edge of the box. The forward tries to play the ball back to his captain, but Khedira gets back to cut out the pass.
19'
Buffon punches the resulting corner clear of the box and the visitors are able to quell the threat from Gli Azzurri. Napoli are looking short of ideas in the final third.
18'
SAVE! Hamsik goes for the drive from distance with his left foot. He gets power on the strike and forces Buffon to punch the ball away from the net before Asamoah puts it behind for a corner.
17'
OVER! Insigne finds space to turn on the edge of the box and goes for the first-time shot, but he can only blaze his effort over the bar.
16'
Napoli win a free-kick in the final third, but Benatia manages to head Jorginho's cross away from Koulibaly in the penalty area.
14'
How will Napoli react to going behind? Juve have come out firing this evening and have put them on the back foot.
12'
G. Higuaín has scored a goal for Juventus! Assist by P. Dybala.
Mertens spurns an opportunity to shoot on the edge of the box as he takes a loose touch before seeing his attempted pass to Callejon cut out by Chiellini.
GOALLLLLLLL!!!!! HIGUAIN FIRES JUVE AHEAD! The visitors pounce on the break to take the lead. Dybala leads his team forward and slides an incisive pass through to the Argentine. Higuain holds his composure to beat Reina, sliding a low effort inside the post. The striker once again haunts his former club, taking his tally to five goals in five appearances against Gli Azzurri.
Dybala slides a pinpoint pass to Higuain on the edge of the box before the Argentine applies the finish.
10'
Buffon takes a slight chance at the back to allow the ball to roll into his grasp. Mertens applies the pressure and almost gets there, but the keeper gets down just in time to make the claim.
9'
Matuidi finds himself in acres of space on the left flank and he tries to fire a low ball across the face of goal. However, Albiol reads the danger and clears the ball away.
8'
Higuain tries to turn into space on the edge of the box, only to be robbed of possession by a good challenge from Allan, much to the delight of the home fans.
6'
Rui has space down the left and he tries to send an early cross to pick out Callejon at the back post, but Chiellini does well on the slide to make the clearance.
4'
SAVE! Juve break down the right flank and Douglas Costa threads the ball through to Higuain in the inside right channel. The Argentine tries to chip the ball over the on-rushing Reina. However, the keeper does enough to turn the ball behind for a corner. A vital save from the Spaniard.
3'
Allan robs Pjanic of the ball and he tries to slide the ball through to Hamsik in the box, but it just escapes the control of the Napoli captain.
1'
We're underway at the Stadio San Paolo.
The home side break down the left flank and Insigne tees up Hamsik for a strike on the edge of the box, but his tame effort fails to make it through the visitors' defensive line.
Napoli have the chance to strengthen their claim to break Juventus' stranglehold of Serie A by pulling seven points clear of I Bianconeri in the table. Gli Azzurri have enjoyed an outstanding start to the season and have dropped just four points this term. Maurizio Sarri's men have been clinical in their last two matches to see off Milan and Udinese, but will need their best effort this evening.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Serie A clash between Napoli and Juventus at the Stadio San Paolo.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
Juve bounced back from their shocking defeat at the hands of Sampdoria last week by easing past Crotone on home soil. Massimiliano Allegri's men have not been at their imperious best this season, but know that a victory tonight will pull them back into a strong position in the title race.
Napoli have made two changes from their win over Udinese last time out. Raul Albiol replaces Vlad Chiriches in the heart of the defence, while Mario Rui returns at left-back, allowing Elseid Hysaj to revert to the opposite flanlk.
FLASBACK! Marek Hamsik earned a point for Napoli in this fixture last season as his second-half strike cancelled out Khedira's opener for I Bianconeri.
STAT ATTACK! Napoli have lost more matches (65) and conceded more goals (209) against Juventus than any other side in Serie A.
STAT ATTACK! Napoli have won just two of their last 13 league matches against Juventus.
Allegri has made six changes to his team that eased past Crotone last time out. Giorgio Chiellini returns from injury to partner Medhi Benatia in the heart of the defence. Benedikt Howedes and Andrea Barzagli drop out as Juve opt for a back four, with Matteo De Sciglio and Kwado Asamoah starting in the full-back positions. Sami Khedira and Miralem Pjanic are also recalled to partner Blaise Matuidi in the middle of the park, while Gonzalo Higuain replaces the injured Mario Mandzukic.
The players are out on the pitch, so we should be underway shortly.
HALF-TIME: NAPOLI 0-1 JUVENTUS
Gonzalo Higuain has handed Juventus a 1-0 lead at the break against his former club Napoli. The Argentine slotted the ball home in the 12th minute following a break from Paulo Dybala to put Juve in control of the contest. Napoli have dominated possession, but have been restricted to efforts from distance. Maurizio Sarri will know that his side will have to improve to maintain their unbeaten record this term.
The players are back out for the second half, so we should be underway shortly.
FULL-TIME: NAPOLI 0-1 JUVENTUS
Napoli's unbeaten run in Serie A this season has come to an end as their former striker Gonzalo Higuain has come back to haunt them to guide Juventus to a narrow victory. The home side dominated possession throughout the contest, but could not muster a breakthough or even a clear-cut opening to test Gianluigi Buffon. Massimiliano Allegri's men were organised and resolute at the back to claim a vital win on the road to close the gap on their rivals at the top of the table.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
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