Gonzalo Higuain and Napoli reclaim second place with 2-1 win versus Torino

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Gonzalo Higuain struck his 33rd league goal of the season as Napoli moved back into second place in Serie A with a 2-1 over Torino at Olimpico Grande.

Roma had beaten Chievo 3-0 earlier on Sunday to keep the pressure on Maurizio Sarri's men in the battle for runners-up spot behind champions Juventus.

Napoli, though, showed no signs of nerves as they took control with two goals in a dominant first-half spell from top scorer Higuain and Jose Callejon.

Torino regrouped for the second half and pulled a goal back through Bruno Peres' chip, but could not conjure an equaliser.

Napoli again went two points clear of Roma, and in the driving seat for automatic Champions League qualification, heading into the final match at Frosinone, whose defeat by Sassuolo earlier on Sunday confirmed their relegation.

It was a bright start by the visitors.

Higuain had tested Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli, who pushed the Argentina forward's shot around the post.

Torino thought they opened the scoring when Andrea Belotti slotted in a low cross from the right, but was correctly flagged offside.

Napoli immediately went on a swift counter-attack and took the lead in the 12th minute.

Marek Hamsik carried the ball forwards and as the Torino defence stepped up, he played Higuain into the left side of the penalty area.

The former Real Madrid forward coolly dispatched a low shot into the bottom right corner to record his 33rd Serie A goal of the campaign, the first player to do so since Antonio Valentin Angelillo for Inter Milan in 1958-59.

Napoli carved the hosts open again on 20 minutes. This time Hamsik strolled into the left side of the box before cutting the ball back for Callejon to knock in from close range.

It could have been worse for Torino, who had thumped Udinese 5-1 last time out, as Higuain saw a low shot from range come back off the base of the post with Padelli beaten.

Torino, who had on-loan Borussia Dortmund forward Ciro Immobile back among the substitutes following a lengthy injury lay-off, regrouped for the second half and returned a much more solid outfit.

Nevertheless, Higuain remained a threat, as he cut inside from the right on the hour and fired an angled shot over.

It was no real surprise when Torino reduced the deficit on 66 minutes.

Midfielder Giuseppe Vives clipped a pass into the left side of the Napoli area, where Brazil defender Peres timed his run perfectly to loft the ball up over Jose Reina, who could not recover ground as it dropped in.

Defender Kalidou Koulibaly hacked the ball out from well behind the line, and as he fell into the net he damaged it, so there was a break in play for some running repairs.

With 15 minutes left, Immobile replaced Josef Martinez for what was the Italy international's first appearance since the end of March, and could yet see him in contention for Euro 2016.

The hosts ended the match with 10 men when in stoppage time Vives collected a second yellow card for a late challenge on Napoli midfielder Allan.