Gonzalo Higuain takes Napoli to top

Gonzalo Higuain struck in either half as Napoli toppled 10-man Inter Milan 2-1 in a spectacular clash at the San Paolo to go top of the Serie A table on Monday.

Inter travelled south for the first big away test of what they hope will be a title-winning campaign, but with just a two-point cushion on a Napoli side whose last defeat came on the opening day of the season.

Inter were shell-shocked by the lightning start of Maurizio Sarri’s men and their hopes of staying top suffered a blow when Yuto Nagatomo saw red a minute before the interval.

But Inter regrouped and Adem Ljajic reduced arrears on the hour with a fine individual strike. Yet despite a battling finish that saw the visitors hit the woodwork twice, it wasn’t enough to stop Napoli going a point clear at the top for the first time this season.

Inter drop to second with Fiorentina, held 1-1 at Sassuolo earlier Monday, a point further off the pace in third. Roma’s shock 0-2 home defeat to Atalanta has left embattled Rudi Garcia’s side in fourth.