Story highlights
Napoli beat Chievo 2-0 to win first Italian league game since January 8
Goals from Miguel Britos and Edinson Cavani seal victory at Stadio San Paolo
Struggling Real Sociedad beat Sevilla 2-0 in Spain's La Liga
Goals from Miguel Britos and Edinson Cavani helped Napoli record their first win in Italy’s Serie A since January 8 as the club made ground on the top six on Monday.
Napoli, who face English club Chelsea in the last-16 of this season’s Champions League, have endured a difficult start to 2012 but returned to winning ways at the Stadio San Paolo.
The club remained seventh after the victory, eight points behind Lazio, who occupy third – the final Champions League qualification spot.
It cut the gap on sixth-placed Roma to just one point, with the capital club losing 1-0 at lowly Siena on the same night.
Uruguayan defender Britos opened the scoring for Napoli after 15 minutes after heading home a corner before compatriot Cavani grabbed his 21st league goal of the campaign.
Stefano Sorrentino fouled the striker in the box before Cavani converted the penalty, leaving Chievo in 14th place.
Roma thrashed fifth-placed Inter Milan earlier this month to end a run of poor results, but then drew at Catania before dropping more points against Siena.
The home side’s top scorer Emanuele Calaio netted his 10th this season from the penalty spot in the 51st minute after halftime substitute Simon Kjaer fouled Mattia Destro.
The win lifted Siena five points above the third-bottom Lecce into 16th.
In Spain, Sevilla’s disappointing season continued with a 2-0 defeat by Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Mexican striker Carlos Vela – on loan from English club Arsenal – was Sociedad’s hero as he turned home Xabi Prieto’s cross to open the scoring just after the hour mark.
Just four minutes later Vela turned provider as his pass teed up Ruben Pardo to seal a win which lifted Sociedad above Sevilla and into 11th in the table.
