Napoli moved level with Atalanta at the top of the Serie A table following a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Venezia in Naples on Sunday.
Giacomo Raspadori came off the bench to score the only goal in a hard-fought win – a result which moves them to second in the Serie A standings with 41 points, only behind Atalanta on goal difference.
Prior to the goal, the home side had a golden chance to go in front when they were awarded a spot-kick. A handball from Jay Idzes after Mathias Olivera’s shot gave Napoli the perfect chance to break the deadlock from the penalty spot.
But Antonio Conte’s side failed to take the chance as Venezia goalkeeper, Stankovic, went the right way and was down quick to get a hand to Romelu Lukaku’s powerful low strike.
Napoli struggled to find a way past the visitors, before Raspadori netted in the 79th minute, nine minutes after coming on. David Neres played a pass across the box to which Venezia’s Antonio Candela got a touch, but the ball fell kindly to Raspadori who drove a first-time finish low into the far corner.