Nicolo Barella sealed a 2-1 win over Verona to send Inter Milan top of Serie A as Napoli were jeered by their fans after being held to a goalless draw at home by Genoa.
Former Cagliari midfielder Barella scored his first goal for Inter with a stunning curling strike seven minutes from time, allowing Inter to overtake defending champions Juventus.
Inter sit two points ahead of Juve, who host 13th-placed AC Milan in Turin on Sunday.
But Serie A runners-up Napoli saw their winless league run extended to four games, and are stuck in seventh position, 12 points behind Inter.
Napoli fans were furious with the point against their northern rivals who are 17th in the league, days after the team's Champions League last 16 progress was stalled with a 1-1 draw against Salzburg.
Inter coach Antonio Conte had also been furious after his side threw away a two-goal lead to fall to a 3-2 Champions League defeat at Borussia Dortmund in midweek.
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But the former Juventus and Chelsea boss was happy with the way his team hit back.
"I saw an important response after Dortmund," said Conte. "The lads are doing something important -- 31 points in 12 games is a nice haul.
"Now there is a (international) break and we're going to rest after a victory that gives us enthusiasm and the knowledge that we're on the right path."
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