( dpa ) - The young Argentinian Ezequiel Lavezzi scored a brace Saturday as Napoli beat visiting Udinese 3-1 Saturday in a high-wattage Serie A game that both sides ended with 10 men.
The Naples side had won their last game in December, notching just three points in their last five games, but lie now at mid-table on 27 points from 20 games.
The fifth-placed hosts from Udine remained rooted on 33 points and still hold one of the three berths that qualify for the UEFA Cup.
They have a four-point deficit from Fiorentina, who hold the last of four Champions League berths ahead of a top-billing Sunday game with 27-point AC Milan.
Napoli produced a breathtaking start before their home crowd, going one up on three minutes through an own goal after twice coming close to beating goalkeeper Matteo Gianello.
Uruguay striker Marcelo Zalayeta had a first chance pouncing on a poor clearance, but both his shot and a following header from defender Matteo Contini grazed the bar's upper face.
After the two close calls, Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovic stood no chance when his Colombian defender Cristian Zapata flicked home a cross from Lavezzi.
Udinese, however, came quickly off the ropes and equalized on eight minutes as forward Simone Pepe slammed home a fast volley off a free kick from the left flank.
Pepe on 34 minutes again came close hitting the post with a swerving cross before his Naples-born striking mates Fabio Quagliarella and Antonio Di Natale failed to top off a counter attack.
A fast but wide drive from Uruguayan Walter Gargano was Napoli's only effort in a first half they ended with 10 due to the 36th-minute dismissal of captain Paolo Cannavaro for a last-man foul on the spurting Zapata.
Udinese did not do much to profit from the dismissal, save a header from Brazilian defender Felipe and a fast wide shot that Pepe fired on 58 minutes, one before being dismissed for faking a foul and receiving his second yellow card.
With both sides down to 10 men, Napoli stepped up their pressure and secured the win in a matter of two minutes thanks to a brace from Lavezzi.
The small 22-year-old Argentinian surprised Handanovic from the distance on 74 minutes and beat him for 3-1 with a close-range lob.
In earlier action, Palermo edged Livorno 1-0 ending a run of three straight defeats and securing a berth in the UEFA Cup zone.
