Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal of the game in the second half to down Udinese at the San Paolo Stadium on Sunday which lifted his side to third place in Serie A.
Higuain struck his ninth league goal of the campaign in the 53rd minute, a left-footed shot from 12 yards that beat Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.
The closest Udinese came to equalising was in the 65th minute when Silvan Widmer's powerful header was kept out by Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
Napoli, who qualified for the Round of 32 of the Europa League after Thursday's 5-0 triumph over FC Midtjylland, held on for their sixth victory in their last seven league games.
ends