Napoli vs. Livorno

Quagliarella got his goal in a much easier way, as Hugo Campagnaro's fierce screamer from 20 metres was parried into his path for an easy tap-in. The hometown hero was on sparkling form and went close again after combining with Marek Hamsik. Livorno created few chances, but when they did Cristiano Lucarelli turned a free header off target. Instead, Hamsik doubled Napoli's advantage moments later. He gathered with his back to goal from 25 metres, then turned and dribbled through four static Livorno defenders - particularly the confused Diniz - to stroke in the finish. Lucarelli had another opportunity, spinning round with the ball in the air for a half-volley that Morgan De Sanctis palmed out from under the bar.

Livorno got a goal back at the dawn of the second half, as a long-range Candreva effort cracked the underside of the crossbar and bounced back out for Lucarelli's headed follow-up. Maggio misplaced a free header at the back post from Quagliarella's cross, but Candreva was single-handedly torturing the Napoli back line. His through ball sent Lucarelli through and De Sanctis flung himself at the shot from seven yards with Paolo Cannavaro stranded. Hamsik wasted a good chance from close range, as Livorno seemed fitter in the final stages. On 79 minutes De Sanctis parried another Candreva rocket from distance and Tomas Danilevicius came sliding on to the loose ball from a yard, but somehow failed to get enough power to turn it over the line!

That proved a very costly error, as soon after Napoli put the points under lock and key. Hamsik threaded through for Ezequiel Lavezzi, who failed to get to the ball, but the clearance fell to Quagliarella. However, replays suggest the Argentine was offside and in an influential position, so Livorno have reason to complain. Mirko Pieri was shown a second yellow card in stoppages for a shocking tackle with his foot raised on Walter Gargano's ankle, but frankly it deserved a straight red and was extremely dangerous.