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| Napoli maintain charge for Europe |
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Napoli have moved into the top six as they reignited their charge for Europe with victory over Bari.
Ezequiel Lavezzi scored in either half to put Napoli in a commanding position but they were ultimately left hanging on after Sergio Almiron got the hosts back in it with 15 minutes left to play.
The win lifts Napoli above Juventus and into the final Europa League berth, surrendered after they failed to win either of their last two games.
They looked determined to end that run as they came out of the traps quickly.
Hugo Campagnaro's early cross found Juan Zuniga in a good position but he could not keep his shot down.
Moments later, Marek Hamsik broke into the Bari box but Jean Francois Gillett made a good save to deny him.
At the other end, Nicola Belmonte played a great ball to set up Edgar Alvarez, but he could not match the assist as he missed the target.
Napoli opened the scoring in the 28th minute as Lavezzi beat Gillet with a superb long-range effort from 25 yards which found the top right corner.
Bari went close to responding immediately, but Leonardi Bonucci's free-kick from just outside the area was well saved by Morgan De Sanctis.
Lavezzi was denied a superb second in the 36th minute as he beat two defenders to waltz into the penalty area, but once one-on-one with Hamsik he fired wide.
Bari were almost gifted an equaliser on the stroke half-time when Leandro Rinaudo left De Sanctis in all sorts of trouble with a risky backpass, but Jose Ignacio Castillo could not stretch to get the decisive touch.
The hosts were on the attack again early in the second half, but De Sanctis made a good save to keep out Riccardo Alegretti's effort after a smart turn from the winger on the edge of the area.
Hugo Campagnaro went for the spectacular in the 55th minute, but his shot from 35 yards went narrowly wide.
However, Napoli would get their second moments later as Lavezzi doubled his tally in the 57th minute.
Bonucci's error freed the Argentinian inside the penalty area and he punished the mistake with a shot low into the right-hand corner of the net.
At the other end, Alegretti fired over with a free-kick, but they put a scare into Napoli when Almiron got a goal back.
Alvarez's cross picked him out perfectly, and his header left De Sanctis with no chance.
And Bari could have been level moments later as Napoli failed to clear their lines and Ferdinando Sforzini almost stabbed the ball home in a goalmouth scramble.
Alegretti had one more chance to level for the hosts, but sent his effort from the edge of the area over the crossbar.
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