Champions League: Napoli 3 Chelsea 1

Napoli have taken the upper hand in their Champions League round-of-16 tie with Chelsea, winning the first leg 3-1 at home on Tuesday.

Juan Mata put Chelsea ahead after 27 minutes at Stadio San Paolo, but an Ezequiel Lavezzi double either side of an Edinson Cavani goal mean Napoli will take a two-goal advantage into the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 14.

Under siege Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas dropped Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard to the bench, while Ashley Cole was also among the substitutes in favour of Jose Bosingwa.

Napoli started well, with Petr Cech called into action early when Cavani evaded Gary Cahill in the box and shot with venom before the goalkeeper saved well with his foot.

Having started the game ahead of Cole, Bosingwa was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury just over 10 minutes into proceedings, prompting the left-back’s introduction.

There was a worrying moment for the visitors when Lavezzi attempted a pinpoint pass through the defence, but Cavani strayed offside and the danger passed.

Chelsea found the breakthrough in the 27th minute. Throwing large numbers forward, they put home skipper Paolo Cannavaro under pressure and the defender mis-kicked as he tried to clear Daniel Sturridge’s pass and succeeded only in playing in Mata, who finished coolly.

Napoli got back on level terms just over five minutes before the break. Cavani, on the turn, played it square for Lavezzi on the edge of the area. The Argentine had no trouble moving past Raul Meireles before curling the ball into the bottom corner with a sublime right-footed finish.

Chelsea came forward immediately after the restart, Ramires advancing unchallenged through the middle but the Portuguese midfielder blasted his effort well over.

Just as it seemed the visitors would reach half-time on equal standing, Cavani got past Branislav Ivanovic as they raced to meet a cross from deep on the right. The Uruguayan reached the back post and threw his shoulder against the delivery, doing enough to divert it into the net and secure a lead at the break.

Napoli started the second half looking to counter and should have extended their lead when Cavani, leading a break through the Chelsea lines, set Lavezzi up with a through-ball after Cahill moved out of position, but the Argentine dragged his effort wide.

Chelsea were throwing huge numbers forward and had chances: Malouda mistimed a volley in the box before Drogba nearly found his way between two defenders, with Salvatore Aronica just getting a foot in to put the ball out.

The Blues were dominating but David Luiz made a horrendous mistake in the 65th minute when attempting to deal with an innocuous long pass forward from Campagnaro.

He flicked it away with flair but succeeded only in surrendering it to Cavani, who once again passed square to Lavezzi. The forward dispatched it with ease to earn his side a two-goal cushion.

Villas-Boas looked to wrestle back control by summoning Lampard and Michael Essien from the bench but chances dried up at both ends.

Chelsea were lucky not to see a fourth go past them when, with 10 minutes to go, Cavani held the ball up on the edge of the Blues’ area before laying it off to Marek Hamsik, who controlled and swivelled past a defender before playing it across for the waiting Christian Maggio.

The right-back tried to sweep it in but Cole kept it out on the line, though the Italian should have done better.

Chelsea laboured late in search of another away goal, with Lampard hitting a testing long shot into Morgan De Sanctis’ arms in stoppage time, but it ended with Napoli in control of the tie.