Napoli and Como drew 0-0 in Serie A on Saturday in a result that did little to further either of their ambitions for this season.
The draw will likely disappoint hosts Como the more as they now trail Juventus in the final Champions League spot by two points and the Old Lady can grow that advantage when they host Verona on Sunday.
Second-placed Napoli know their Serie A title defence is effectively over with leaders Inter Milan, now nine points clear, needing just a draw from their remaining four fixtures to win the league.
Inter can claim the Scudetto on Sunday when they host mid-table Parma.
However, with a game more played than third-placed AC Milan, Napoli now know the Rossoneri can join them on 70 points this weekend when they visit Sassuolo.
The first big chance of the encounter came inside the opening 10 minutes as Nico Paz played in Anastasios Douvikas, who managed to round Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, but two defenders were able to get back in time to block his eventual effort off the goal-line.
Scott McTominay responded for Napoli with a towering leap at a corner on 18 minutes, but his header went over when an effort on target would have resulted in a goal with Jean Butez lost in a melee.
Como’s Martin Baturina bent wide four mins later and then Milinkovic-Savic came out well to deny Assane Diao on a swift counter on the half-hour as the match went into half-time.
Napoli appealed vainly for a penalty early in the second period, however, the referee adjudged Rasmus Hojlund had manufactured the contact close to the byline and chose not to point to the spot.
A deflected effort from just inside the box from Baturina then required a desperate claw away from the goal by a wrong-footed Milinkovic-Savic as the match seemed destined to end a stalemate.
McTominay passed up the best chance of the second period on 80 minutes after galloping onto a lofted through-ball but his steered finish nestled in the side netting.
Matteo Politano then nearly won the match five minutes later with a spectacular curling effort from distance, which came back off the post with Butez well-beaten.
Earlier, Udinese climbed to 10th following a 2-0 win at home to Torino.
Genoa’s trip to Atalanta will round out the day’s action in Serie A.
AFP
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