Christian Maggio's diving header allowed Napoli to fight back against Fiorentina in this entertaining encounter.

This match came at the end of a troubled week off the pitch, as crowd problems meant two stands in the San Paolo were locked down and Viola fans barred from travelling to the game. On the field was another matter, as Edy Reja's men had managed to hold Roma 1-1 despite Fabiano Santacroce's dismissal. That red card cost him a suspension, along with Fiorentina's Felipe Melo, who was dismissed during the late draw with Juventus. Alessandro Gamberini skips at least four rounds after dislocating his shoulder on international duty against Cyprus.

Fiorentina's last win here was in 1995-96, while Napoli hoped to continue their run of six victories and a draw on home turf, during which only Milan had managed to score.

Mario Alberto Santana and Ezequiel Lavezzi threatened early on with counter-attacks, then Lavezzi went on a solo run and cut back for Gustavo German Denis to fire well over from a promising position.

Christian Maggio's effort was charged down in the box, but at the other end Salvatore Aronica hauled down Alberto Gilardino mere centimetres from the edge of the box. Adrian Mutu took the free kick and smashed it against the underside of the bar, but the bounce took it back out.

Napoli also went incredibly close moments later. Denis's cross found a Marek Hamsik diving header parried from point-blank range by Sebastien Frey, but on the rebound Lavezzi somehow managed to hit the bar from six yards in front of an open goal!

It proved a costly error, as Fiorentina took the lead moments later. Gilardino flicked on a Riccardo Montolivo pass with his heel to send Mutu clear down the left side of the box and the Romanian prodded it past the on-rushing Gennaro Iezzo. However, there are suspicions of an offside position.

Napoli equalised straight after the restart with Hamsik, who only had to sidefoot in the ball from two yards after a splendid run by Lavezzi. The Argentine slalomed through a maze of Viola shirts to get to the byline and roll the ball across.

Iezzo had his palms stung by a Santana snapshot, but Napoli took the lead for the first time in the game on 70 minutes. Maggio was at the back post for a diving header from Vitale's deflected cross, which was touched on by Fiorentina's Da Costa.

Gilardino had penalty appeals waved away for contact with Paolo Cannavaro, who did seem to be embracing the Viola striker. Iezzo then smothered a remarkably powerful Marco Donadel piledriver.