Hirving Lozano's 69th minute spot-kick and a neat late finish from Piotr Zielinski ensured host Napoli made its way past a resilient Empoli side and moved further ahead of Milan, whose title defense is faltering.

Napoli now has an ominous lead on the rest of the league heading into the final matches of 2022 this weekend, as it hunts its first league title in over three decades.

"The road ahead is still long and there are many pitfalls. We need to stay at it and be aware of the importance of the challenges ahead of us," said coach Luciano Spalletti to DAZN.

Empoli, which finished with 10 men as Sebastiano Luperto picked up a second booking shortly after Lozano's goal, stays 14th and seven points above the relegation zone.

The Tuscans beat Napoli twice last season and all-but ended their Scudetto challenge in April when they came back from two goals behind to stun Spalletti's side.

And on Tuesday they frustrated Napoli, who was without injured wing wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, for large periods of the match.

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