Napoli 1 : 0 Inter Milan - Lavezzi strike enough to defeat Inter

Napoli capped a superb week with a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Inter Milan to heap further pressure on Nerazzurri coach Claudio Ranieri.

Inter had already slipped to seventh place in Serie A and trail Marseille 1-0 in their Champions League last-16 tie, while Napoli are enjoying a strong domestic run and beat Chelsea in midweek.

And the southerners stayed true to the form book with a deserved win on home soil as Ezequiel Lavezzi's strike on the hour made the difference, despite the late dismissal of Salvatore Aronica.

Dejan Stankovic had a third-minute sighter which went over the bar and 60 seconds later Lavezzi's corner found Gokhan Inler, but the midfielder's left-footed shot was easily caught by Julio Cesar.

Napoli continued to push and Edinson Cavani tried a shot which failed to test Julio Cesar.

In the 17th minute Lavezzi had a left-footed shot which was crucially blocked by Walter Samuel.

The hosts' pressure continued as Camilo Zuniga set up Blerim Dzemaili, whose right-footed shot from the edge of the box forced the Brazilian goalkeeper into an excellent save.

Lavezzi found Cavani with a free-kick which his strike partner headed just wide of the post.

In the 41st minute Cavani shot wide from 25 yards and two minutes before the break Inter had a rare chance of their own, with Wesley Sneijder's superb free-kick just outside the top-right corner.

Napoli began the second half brightly as Christian Maggio's header was not too far off and just before the hour, their superiority paid off.

Lavezzi was the man to provide the decisive goal, set up by Dzemaili before firing home with a cute finish from the left.

Dzemaili then forced a save from Julio Cesar and Lavezzi came close again. The effervescent Dzemaili then headed another chance just wide.

At the other end, Giampaolo Pazzini's woeful effort was way off target.

Inter's cause was aided by the dismissal of Aronica, who fouled Pazzini when he would have been clean through.

But Inter could not take advantage as Esteban Cambiasso and Pazzini both had chances denied by the hosts to leave Ranieri to digest another defeat.