Napoli three points clear at Serie A summit after win at Lecce

Napoli maintained their lead at the top of Serie A on Tuesday after the champions won 1-0 at lowly Lecce and moved three points ahead of closest rivals Roma.

Andre-Frank Anguissa headed home the only goal of the game in the 69th minute to ensure Napoli followed up on their tempestuous win over Scudetto rivals Inter Milan at the weekend.

Napoli are on 21 points from nine league fixtures, three points ahead of Roma who host Parma on Wednesday evening and have an inferior goal difference.

AC Milan are a further point back in third ahead of Tuesday's late fixture at Atalanta.

Anguissa's fourth goal of the season gave Napoli a second win in a matter of days and further steadied the ship after a rocky recent run of results.

Antonio Conte had to do without a clutch of key players in his 250th Serie A match as coach, including Kevin De Bruyne who, according to team manager Gabriele Oriali, will be out of action for at least three months with a hamstring injury.

De Bruyne injured himself scoring Napoli's opening goal from the penalty spot against Inter and will be a big loss over the next few months, when Conte will also be without Cameroon midfielder Anguissa during the Africa Cup of Nations.

Lecce stay 16th on six points, two above the relegation zone after a fifth defeat of the season for Eusebio Di Francesco's spirited team.