Napoli swept Lecce aside 3-0 to continue their Champions League ambitions, as they could be in third place by Sunday evening. If Milan or Juventus win their head-to-head, it will allow Edy Reja's men to move up the standings.

This was a great opportunity for the Partenopei to mount a real Champions League challenge, as they had dropped points in only one home game all season, but Lecce forced Juventus into a last-gasp 2-1 result last week and were tough to beat. Edy Reja had no injury concerns, as Gennaro Iezzo recovered from a back problem, but the visitors missed Andrea Zanchetta and Andrea Ardito.

Lecce had conquered the San Paolo only once in 12 previous attempts, 4-2 in 1997-98, and were without a Serie A win since September 28.

Just nine minutes in Ezequiel Lavezzi sprung the offside trap to surge past Schiavi and Francesco Benussi tried to get the ball, but ended up connecting with his shin instead. It was only a booking, as Lavezzi was heading towards the byline. Marek Hamsik converted the penalty with a low drive, sending Benussi the wrong way.

Lecce fought back as a Fabio Caserta snapshot was deflected over the bar, then from the resulting corner Guillermo Giacomazzi's effort was charged down and Caserta skimmed the woodwork again.

Napoli somehow failed to double their advatage. The Lavezzi cross from the left whipped past everyone to find German Denis sliding in at the back post, but Benussi performed an extraordinary point-blank reaction save.

Giacomazzi's strike whistled wide from the D, but the home side threatened again. A cross for Denis was cleared to the edge of the box for a Lavezzi volley that was inches wide of the upright.

Goalscorer Hamsik pulled up with a suspected groin strain and was replaced by Michele Pazienza.

Lavezzi proved himself useful in defence, too, as Lecce were about to strike on a counter when he got back and did enough to flick the chipped cross off Simone Tiribocchi's foot at the far post.

Substitute Pazienza made his mark, too, doubling Napoli's lead just before the break. Cristian Maggio's cross from the right went past everyone, but the midfielder chested it down and fired a half-volley beneath the goalkeeper. It was his first Serie A goal after 130 appearances.

Some sections of the crowd thought it was 3-0, but Denis volleyed a deflected cross on to the side-netting.

Tiribocchi's splendid volley cracked against the base of the near post 90 seconds after the restart, but he was correctly flagged offside anyway. Walter Gargano wasn't offside, though, and his fierce strike from 20 metres was palmed round the upright by one strong Benussi hand.

There was controversy on 53 minutes, as the referee awarded a free kick to Lecce for a Leandro Rinaudo foul on Giacomazzi, but replays show the contact was just inside the penalty area. Even the players didn't seem to notice, as they did not protest. The Caserta free kick was charged down by the defensive wall.

Napoli were too altruistic at the end of a wonderful team move. Lavezzi, Gargano and Maggio spread the play across the field on the counter, but Maggio tried to cut back towards Lavezzi instead of going for goal and allowed a defender to clear.

Moments later Maggio placed a much stronger cross right across the face of goal, with Denis inches away from making contact.

It was a woeful defensive error that allowed Napoli to go 3-0 up on 65 minutes. Schiavi seemed to have the Maggio cross covered, but he incredibly let it go through his legs, so Denis had all the time in the world to control and shoot from six yards.

Lavezzi was booked for a foul on Angelo and will be suspended for the next round away to Torino.

Denis could have had a hat-trick, but Lavezzi's cut-back again went past the defender and this time he fired wide in acres of space!

Lavezzi sprung the offside trap almost from the centre circle, so Benussi had to come tearing out to clear from his feet.