Napoli 3 - 1 US Sassuolo Calcio: Gonzalo Higuain bags brace as Napoli move four points clear at top of Serie A

Posted Sunday, January 17, 2016 by PA

Napoli opened up a four-point lead at the top of Serie A after Gonzalo Higuain's brace secured a 3-1 come-from-behind victory at home to Sassuolo.

The hosts recovered from the shock of Diego Falcinelli's third-minute penalty to equalise in the 19th minute through Jose Callejon's first league goal of the season.

Higuain subsequently netted three minutes before the interval and then again in stoppage-time - taking him to 20 league goals for the campaign - to strengthen Napoli's title push. Sassuolo remain sixth.

Immediately behind Napoli in the table are Inter Milan, who earlier on Saturday moved into second place but have lost ground on the table-toppers as they could only draw 1-1 at Atalanta.

In their previous outing, Inter suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Sassuolo, and it seemed Eusebio Di Francesco's side might be on for another impressive result in the opening few seconds here as they grabbed the lead from the spot.

Raul Albiol brought down Nicola Sansone and the resulting penalty saw Falcinelli send Pepe Reina the wrong way.

As Napoli looked to make a swift response, Higuain sliced wide and Lorenzo Insigne had a shot saved, before providing the delightful cross from which Callejon nodded the home side level.

Reina made a smart stop to deny Matteo Politano, but Napoli were soon threatening again, and after the lively Insigne shot wide, Higuain got on the end of a low Marek Hamsik delivery to make it 2-1.

The Argentina striker made several unsuccessful attempts on goal over the course of the second half and Insigne volleyed off-target, but Napoli breathed a sigh of relief late on as Sassuolo substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini's header bounced wide.

Higuain then made the points safe with a low shot into the corner in the dying seconds.