First-half strikes by Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamšík enabled SSC Napoli to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive with a 2-0 success against US Città di Palermo.

Morgan De Sanctis made an early double save from Josip Iličić and Abel Hernández to prevent the hosts from falling behind, but the Partenopei, who had themselves struck the bar through Gökhan Inler, broke the deadlock after Milan Milanović was penalised for handball in the area.

Former Rosanero striker Cavani converted the spot kick to register his 23rd league goal of the campaign, and Napoli doubled their advantage ten minutes before the interval when Hamšík surged on to Goran Pandev's reverse pass and beat Emiliano Viviano.

Napoli's third Serie A win in four lifts Walter Mazzarri's charges three points clear of Udinese Calcio, FC Internazionale Milano and S.S. Lazio, who all play on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, AS Roma's prospects of returning to UEFA competition suffered a further setback as they drew 0-0 in rainswept conditions at AC Chievo Verona. The Giallorossi lie seventh after a run of just one victory from their last six league matches.