Cassano downs Napoli, Milan held

Napoli coach Rafa Benitez walks off the pitch after his team's defeat to Napoli in the Italian Serie A. Napoli are now seven
points behind leaders AS Roma. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)

Napoli remain in third but their third defeat of the campaign, and second consecutively following a 3-0 reverse at Juventus a fortnight ago, has given leaders Roma and second-placed Juventus an unexpected title boost.

Ahead of Sunday's fixtures, Roma, who host Cagliari late on Sunday, can stretch their lead over Napoli to seven points.

Meanwhile, Juventus, which is currently a point behind Roma, is away to Livorno on early Sunday and can possibly go top of the league.

Napoli's defeat has also given incentive to Inter, who sit fourth, three points adrift of Rafael Benitez's men.

On paper, the international break was not kind to Napoli.

Desperate to make amends for their reverse in Turin, the hosts dominated throughout but ultimately failed to hit the net, the first miss coming early on when Antonio Mirante blocked Gonzalo Higuain's angled drive from close in.

Jonathan Biabiany and then Nicola Sansone then spurned chances for Parma, the latter spinning a first-timer wide from eight metres out while unmarked by the Napoli defence.

Lorenzo Insigne sent a curling shot wide and then Higuain missed the target again on the half hour to leave the hosts frustrated at the break.

Napoli dominated the early exchanges after the interval and had the ball in the net thanks to Higuain on 70 minutes only for it to be ruled offside.

Minutes later, Cassano silenced the San Paolo after being allowed to run down on goal and send a low angled strike past the hands of outstretched Pepe Reina.

Napoli sniffed a leveller in the 89th minute but Belgian substitute Dries Mertens' long-range free kick smacked off the crossbar.

Milan had been looking to claim their first league win since a 1-0 win over Udinese in mid-October and took a fourth-minute lead thanks to Kaka.

It was the Brazilian's 97th goal for the club, but Milan's joy was short-lived.

Urby Emanuelson was adjudged to have shoved Sime Vrsaljko in the area and Alberto Gilardino stepped up to beat Christian Abbiati from the spot to pull Genoa level on eight minutes.

The Rossoneri were given a chance to restore their lead just after the half hour when Mario Balotelli, looking for his first league goal in two months, was hauled down by Thomas Manfredini whilst about to shoot.

Manfredini was shown a straight red card in the 36th minute but Balotelli's soft spot-kick was easily collected by Mattia Perin in the visitors' goal.

Milan put their man advantage to good use in a dominant second half and came close in 10 thrilling, closing minutes but had to settle for a fifth draw in 13 games which left them 18 points off the lead and 14 behind the first Champions League qualifying place.