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Marcelo Zalayeta's double sunk Catania and gave Napoli their first win in almost a month.
These two southern clubs were both performing above expectations, although the pressure was mounting on Edy Reja after one point from their last three games. The Sicilians had only been defeated once on their travels this term, notching up a series of draws, although Vargas and Cristian Silvestri sat out a ban. Something had to give, as this fixture had never ended in a Serie A stalemate with five home wins and one Catania victory in January 1961.
Goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo came out to close down Gionatha Spinesi, while Martinez drilled just wide of the near post as the visitors got off to a stronger start.
Andrea Sottil required a perfectly-timed tackle to block Ezequiel Lavezzi as he pulled the trigger in the best chance of the game so far. The Argentine sensation cut back past a defender on Marcelo Zalayeta's pass and his snapshot was well parried at the near post by Ciro Polito.
Lavezzi turned on the light and this lifted the Azzurri and just before half-time they broke the deadlock. Lavezzi carried on the ball for Zalayeta, who waltzed through the Catania defence in a splendid solo effort with cool finish past Polito.
Lavezzi sprung the offside trap down the left and cut back for Marek Hamsik to test Polito. Walter Gargano went on a wonderful solo run before he was closed down at the last second by goalkeeper and Lorenzo Stovini.
Napoli doubled their lead with a smart team move. Zalayeta started and finished it, exchanging with Lavezzi on the edge of the area for a right-foot strike low into the corner.
Iezzo did well to pluck a Spinesi header out of the air and Hamsik's right-foot attempt tested Polito at the near post.
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