Napoli kept pressure on Serie A leaders AC Milan as they beat mid-table Bologna 2-0 on Sunday.

Giuseppe Mascara and Marek Hamsik scored in the first half to secure the win for Napoli who moved provisionally level on points with Milan. The league leaders will visit Fiorentina on Sunday night.

Bologna created the first chance of the game when Marco Di Vaio sent a powerful shot just wide after five minutes, but the Partenopei hit back immediately with an even better chance.

Mascara, starting in place of suspended star striker Edinson Cavani, produced a dangerous low cross from the left, but Ezequiel Lavezzi was just unable to connect.

Lavezzi then had a fierce attempt deflected away for a corner by Daniele Portanova before the visitors made the breakthrough.

Andrea Dossena's sublime diagonal ball found Christian Maggio on the right wing in the 30th minute and he in turn sent in a fine cross for Lavezzi. His back-heeled flick was not heading in, but Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano got his hand to it, and in an attempt to clear, diverted it into the path of Mascara who slotted home.

Before the hosts could recover they found themselves two down. Just before the break, Hamsik teed up Lavezzi when the pair found themselves through on goal with only Viviano to beat, but the goalkeeper brought down Lavezzi and Hamsik sent the resulting penalty straight down the middle.

Bologna raised their game in the second half and created more chances, but the game was effectively over at the interval.

Morgan De Sanctis made a vital low save in the 53rd minute to keep out a 25-yard Di Vaio effort and then the same player got the better of the Napoli goalkeeper from a long ball, but could only find the side-netting with the goal gaping. Viviano then made a decent reflex save from Lavezzi and kept out a volley from Hamsik as Napoli looked to extend their advantage.

Bologna never gave up, but were unable to find a way back with Di Vaio was inches away from providing the finishing touch nine minutes from time and then De Sanctis brilliantly pushing Nicolo Cherubin's spectacular 25-yard volley over the bar at full stretch.