Bologna 2-1 Napoli

Bologna took a step towards Serie A safety with a win over Napoli, who saw their own hopes of qualifying for a European place hit.

The home side were two goals to the good after just 12 minutes but held that advantage for only two minutes before the visitors hit back.

Marcelo Zalayeta had given Bologna the lead with seven minutes gone before Adailton doubled their advantage.

Napoli pulled a goal back through Leandro Rinaudo two minutes later but they could not make another breakthrough on the resolute Bologna defence.

Antonio Busce set up the opener with a shot across goal which Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis had covered but Zalayeta deflected the ball to the other side of the goal.

Adailton scored the second direct from a free-kick 25 yards out as he swerved the ball around the wall and it bounced in front of De Sanctis before finding the net.

Ezequiel Lavezzi set up the Napoli goal when he beat a defender and crossed the ball into the area where Rinaudo out-jumped the defence and headed into the back of the net.

Adailton tried his luck again from another free-kick but this time De Sanctis was up to the challenge and blocked the effort well.

But Adailton was guilty of losing possession in midfield and Napoli played it out quickly to the right where it was crossed low into the area but Daniele Portanova anticipated well and cleared.

Napoli continued to press but could not find a way through as they worked hard to level the scores. Bologna, who had started the game well and dominated the first 15 minutes, were increasingly relying on the strength of their defending to keep them ahead.

Walter Gargano was denied five minutes into the second half when his great shot was kept out by Bologna keeper Emiliano Viviano.

Napoli had started the second half as they finished the first as Lavezzi linked up with Fabio Quagliarella and substitute German Denis, with Marek Hamsik in support.

Viviano blocked with his legs from a Quagliarella free-kick, the ball swerving around the wall and hitting the keeper before being cleared by his defence.

Lavezzi then linked up with Luca Cigarini and he crossed the ball low into the area for Denis but his touch on the ball was not strong enough for it to cross the line.

As both sides tried to claim the loose ball, Andrea Raggi did just enough to put off Quagliarella as it passed in front of him and went just wide of the far post.

Bologna battled out the remaining minutes of the game for a vital victory as Napoli could not quite find the finishing touch to pick up even a point.