A Sulley Muntari-inspired Inter Milan notched up their fifth consecutive win in Serie A with victory over Napoli at the San Siro today.
The former Portsmouth midfielder set up the opener for Ivan Cordoba before scoring his side's second in a frantic first half.
Ezequiel Lavezzi pulled one back for Napoli before half time, but in the end it was Inter who were unlucky not to add to their tally before the full-time whistle.
After a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Panathinaikos in the Champions League on Wednesday Jose Mourinho's side were determined to make amends and appease their fans with a win which would keep them clear at the top of the table.
It took 16 minutes for that determination to pay off as Inter took the lead through pretty much their first meaningful attack of the game. Muntari crossed the ball in following a corner to find Cordoba in the box, and the Colombian finished with a left-footed shot low into the goal.
Napoli hit back as Walter Gargano forced a save from Inter keeper Julio Cesar with a fierce right-footed drive, but soon after they were undone by Muntari again.
With 24 minutes played Julio Cruz created space for Maicon with a backheeled pass, and the Brazilian then had the time and space to pick out Muntari in the box who finished with a shot which came off his heel.
Nine minutes before the break Napoli decided to copy their opponents. Marcelo Zalayeta sent Lavezzi with a backheeled through ball which left the Inter defence for dead, and the Argentina international was able to finish with a low strike past Julio Cesar.
That, however, was as good as it got for Napoli as Inter set about making sure they took all three points.
Only their finishing let them down, as Dejan Stankovic missed the target with a speculative lob which flew over the bar just short of the hour mark before Zlatan Ibrahimovic should have done better with a fierce shot that was kept out by Napoli keeper Gennaro Iezzo.
Shortly before Napoli's Daniele Mannini had wasted his side's final chance of the game as the contest became bogged down in midfield and Inter dared to press forward less often.
As the minutes ticked away Javier Zanetti was presented with a great chance to sew it up at 3-1 when he found himself with a sight of goal from inside the box, but Iezzo pulled off a great save to give his side the slightest of chances to draw level.
But in the end there was only time for Ibrahimovic to miss another chance as he sent a shot sailing wide by narrowest of margins deep into stoppage time.
The result means Inter remain at least three points clear at the top of the Serie A, six points if neighbours AC Milan fail to beat Palermo later this evening. Napoli remain fourth after both Lazio and Fiorentina lost their games.
