Serie A wrap: Napoli, Lazio close in

Napoli and Lazio kept the pressure on table-toppers AC Milan with victories in the Serie A on Sunday.

With Milan losing at home against Roma on Saturday, victories for Napoli and Lazio ensure they sit just three points behind the league leaders heading into the Christmas break.

But everything did not go to plan for Juventus, who dropped to fourth in the league standings after Chievo struck a late equaliser in a hotly contested 1-1 draw.

Juventus took the lead just after the half-hour mark when Fabio Quagliarella scored his ninth goal of the season.

Chievo piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser and it finally paid off when striker Sergio Pellissier found the back of the net in stoppage time.

Another late goal was scored at the Stadio San Paolo, as Napoli moved to second with a 1-0 victory over Lecce.

Walter Mazzarri’s side had Edinson Cavani’s injury-time winner to thank for the victory as they extended their unbeaten run to five in all competitions.

Lazio moved to third with an entertaining 3-2 home triumph over Udinese.

Brazilian attacker Hernanes gave the hosts a second-minute lead but Alexis Sanchez levelled proceedings soon afterwards.

Giuseppe Biava struck back for the hosts before Udinese substitute German Denis scored on the hour mark to set up an exciting finish.

Just when it looked like Udinese had done enough to leave the Stadio Olimpico with a valuable point, Colombian defender Cristian Zapata put the ball into his own net with two minutes remaining.

Catania won their first match in four with a 1-0 win over lowly Brescia with Maxi Lopez’s 33rd minute strike the difference between the two sides.

Elsewhere, Parma and Bologna played out a goalless stalemate, while bottom-place Bari managed a 1-1 draw with Palermo after Andrea Masiello’s penalty cancelled out Palermo defender Josip Ilic’s opener.