Fernando Llorente opened the scoring for the hosts before Andrea Pirlo produced a wonderful free kick to double the hosts advantage; Paul Pogba sealed the points emphatically.

Juventus climbed above Napoli and to within one point of Serie A leaders Roma with a 3-0 victory over Rafa Benitez’s men on Sunday.

Fernando Llorente’s second-minute strike set the hosts on their way to a sixth consecutive home win, with Andrea Pirlo’s sublime free-kick and a stunning Paul Pogba volley wrapping up the points after the break.

Angelo Ogbonna’s late sending off took some shine off Juve’s fourth league win on the bounce, but the defending champions now have the summit in their sights after securing second place outright.

For the visitors, the result ended their five-match winning run in all competitions as they failed to capitalise on Roma’s draw with Sassuolo.

Juventus made two changes from the midweek draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League, while Napoli made three after beating Marseille in the same competition.

Both teams had won their three previous games but it was Antonio Conte’s men who made the decisive start.

Pogba’s bouncing shot was tipped behind by Pepe Reina and from the short corner, Arturo Vidal’s shot was flicked on to Llorente by Carlos Tevez and the Spaniard made no mistake from close range after only two minutes.

It would have been two but for a tremendous save by Reina. Pirlo’s deep cross was headed across by Pogba towards Leonardo Bonucci six yards out but his point-blank header was somehow saved by the goalkeeper and Napoli scrambled clear.

More than 20 minutes passed before Napoli registered a shot on target but Lorenzo Insigne’s effort on the turn was easy for Gianluigi Buffon.

Insigne almost provided an equaliser after 32 minutes when he found space in the area but his left-foot drive whistled past the post, while Reina had to be alert to thwart Llorente’s near-post header.

The back and forth contest almost swung in favour of Benitez’s team just before the break and again it was Insigne who provided the danger with a dipping long-range strike that landed on the roof of the net.

The early exchanges of the second half were dominated by Napoli and the impressive Insigne once again provided the main threat. His curling free-kick after 50 minutes had to be tipped wide by Buffon.

Napoli had only failed to score once in the league all season and Marek Hamsik went close after 63 minutes but lashed into the side netting from inside the area.

Pirlo added the second with typical finesse, the midfielder’s inch-perfect free-kick flying into the top corner from 25 yards.

And the impressive Pogba got on the scoresheet after 80 minutes with a spectacular 30-yard volley.

Ogbonna’s obstruction of Dries Mertens saw him dismissed for a second booking with seven minutes left, but Juventus were home and dry by then.

According to Goal