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Serie A round-up: Vlad Chiriches hero and villain as Napoli keep pace with Juventus

Napoli defender Vlad Chiriches celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A football match between Napoli and Chievo
Image: Vlad Chiriches celebrates his goal in Napoli's victory over Chievo

Napoli kept pace with fellow title-chasers Juventus after coming from behind to beat Chievo Verona 3-1 at the Stadio San Paolo.

Former Tottenham defender Vlad Chiriches gifted the visitors an early lead after giving the ball away cheaply before Nicola Rigoni calmly slotted past Jose Reina.

But in-form Gonzalo Higuain grabbed his 26th goal of the season moments later after turning in Faouzi Ghoulam's cross.

Chiriches redeemed himself in the 38th minute, heading home Jorginho's cross to give Chievo goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri no chance.

Jose Callejon clinched all three points in the second half as Maurizio Sarri's side moved level on points with Juventus at the top of Serie A.

First-half goals from Roberto Soriano, Antonio Cassano and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos secured a 3-0 win for Sampdoria against Serie A's bottom side Hellas Verona.

It took Sampdoria six minutes to break the deadlock when Soriano pounced on a rebound from Pierluigi Gollini's save.

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Cassano doubled Sampdoria's lead five minutes later after calmly going round Gollini and Verona's fate was sealed on the half hour mark when Cassano's pass found Christodoulopoulos who slotted home as the visitors climbed up two places to 13th.

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