Ezequil and Lavezzi celebrate Napoli's third

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Napoli 3-1 Chelsea

Napoli rallied from a goal down to record what turned out to be a fairly comfortable victory over Chelsea at San Paolo Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Blues soaked up some early pressure from the hosts to claim the lead through Juan Mata on 27 minutes before a brace from Ezequiel Lavezzi, sandwiching an Edinson Cavani goal, helped the Italian outfit to victory in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.

Despite the absence of suspended coach Walter Mazzarri, Napoli started brightly with the help of a vocal support.

The first real chance of the game arrived on 10 minutes when Cavani raced onto a wonderful lofted pass from Lavezzi, but Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech did well to deny the Uruguay international with an outstretched foot.

Moments later, Cheslea were forced to withdraw Jose Bosingwa from the field of play when the full-back pulled up with what looked like a hamstring problem.

Ashely Cole was brought on for the Portuguese defender, with question marks remaining over the fitness of the England international following a recent recovery from injury.

Despite being on the back foot for the opening spell, it was the visitors who claimed the lead on 27 minutes when Mata latched onto Paolo Cannavaro scuffed clearance before side-footing a volleyed effort past goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis.

However, the Partenopei were irrepressible with their lightning quick attacks and finally drew level on 38 minutes when Lavezzi unleashed a curling effort from outside the area, which flew into the bottom-right corner.

Brazilian midfielder Ramires had a glorious opportunity to restore Chelsea’s slender advantage just moments later, but he blazed the ball over the bar from just outside the box.

And he was made to rue that miss as Napoli scored again two minutes into first-half stoppage time when Cavani bundled home Gokhan Inler’s deep cross with his shoulder at the far post.

The visitors came out all guns blazing after the interval, as Marek Hamsik was forced to clear a goalbound effort off his line before Florent Malouda fired a powerful effort straight into the arms of De Sanctis.

Napoli looked dangerous on the counter attack the whole evening and they almost extended their advantage on 55 minutes, but Lavezzi fired wide of the right-hand post from just inside the box.

Chelsea piled forward in search of the equaliser and they were twice denied. The first effort from Mata was gathered comfortably by De Sanctis, while Salvatore Aronica did well to deny Didier Drogba what looked to be a certain goal with a vital clearance.

Villas-Boas’ side did leave themselves open at the back in their quest for a second goal, however, and the hosts bagged their third of the evening on 65 minutes when Cavani intercepted David Luiz’s wayward pass, before squaring the ball for Lavezzi to fire into an unguarded net.

Despite the introduction of substitutes Frank Lampard and Michael Essien moments later, Napoli were never really threatened.

In fact the Italians almost further extended their advantage in the last few minutes but left-back Ashley Cole did well to clear midfielder Christian Maggio’s goalbound shot off the line.

The result piles further pressure on an under-fire Villas-Boas and the BLues now face an uphill task in the return leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, 14 March.