Napoli 5 - 1 Empoli: Jose Callejon scores twice as Napoli thrash Empoli

Napoli kept Serie A title rivals Juventus at arm's length by drubbing Empoli 5-1 at the San Paolo.

Juve temporarily dislodged Maurizio Sarri's free-scoring side from first place on Sunday but, despite falling behind to Leandro Paredes' opener, the southerners responded confidently.

The league's top scorer Gonzalo Higuain grabbed his sixth goal in four games before Lorenzo Insigne's strike, two from Jose Callejon and a Michele Camporese own goal settled an easy comeback.

After watching Juve grab top spot with their 4-0 thrashing of Chievo, Napoli had to strike back.

They could not convert their early chances, though, and it was Empoli who scored in the 28th minute.

Paredes' dummied free-kick took a heavy deflection off Callejon to fool Pepe Reina before nestling in the back of the net.

Napoli reacted typically quickly with Higuain grabbing his 22nd goal of the season.

The Argentinian burst into the box to meet Insigne's cross from the left and, in the 37th minute, provider turned goalscorer thanks to his well-placed free-kick.

The Azzurri managed to extend their advantage when play resumed, Camporese perhaps unlucky to put the ball into his own goal when trying to anticipate Higuain's run.

In the 68th minute Camporese attempted to atone for his error by dragging Empoli back into the game but his header from Paredes' corner could only shave paint off the crossbar.

There was no way back for Sarri's former club, however, and Callejon confirmed the outcome with quickly-taken brace in the dying moments of the match.