A Stevan Jovetic scorcher and Adem Ljajic gave Inter the 2-0 victory away to Napoli, setting up a Coppa Italia semi-final with Lazio or Juventus.

These sides were currently first and third in Serie A, but went head-to-head for a place in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia against either Lazio or Juventus. When they met here in the League last month, the Partenopei won 2-1 and were saved by the woodwork in stoppages.

A Stevan Jovetic scorcher and Adem Ljajic gave Inter the 2-0 victory away to Napoli, setting up a Coppa Italia semi-final with Lazio or Juventus.

These sides were currently first and third in Serie A, but went head-to-head for a place in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia against either Lazio or Juventus. When they met here in the League last month, the Partenopei won 2-1 and were saved by the woodwork in stoppages.

Samir Handanovic beat away a Dries Mertens curler and performed a one-handed save on Jose Callejon, while Geoffrey Kondogbia’s strike was charged down from the edge of the box after great work to set him up from Stevan Jovetic.

Handanovic flew to palm away a Manolo Gabbiadini volley from close range, but the ex-Sampdoria forward was caught offside anyway.

Mertens over-hit a return pass that would’ve sent Gabbiadini clear on goal and Handanovic smothered a scuffed Gabbiadini free kick.

Mertens, Callejon and Jovetic attempted from distance, but both teams remained uninspired and Gary Medel’s difficult volley was just over the bar.

Gonzalo Higuain was thrown on for the final 19 minutes, but it was Inter who broke the deadlock. Marek Hamsik gave the ball away to spark a counter and Jovetic curled a ferocious right-foot finish into the top corner.

Adem Ljajic hit the side-netting and Higuain nodded wide, while Handanovic had to use his legs to parry a Mertens snapshot and flap it away under pressure from Pipita.

Mertens went down in the box under a slight Joao Miranda challenge, but was booked for simulation and it proved his second yellow card.

As Napoli were pouring forward seeking an equaliser, Ljajic struck on the counter, firing past on-rushing Reina into an empty net. It was a tense finale, as Roberto Mancini was sent off for a scuffle with the Napoli bench.

Handanovic still had time to perform a stunning fingertip save on Higuain’s curler out from under the bar.

Napoli 0-2 Inter

Scorers: Jovetic 74 (I), Ljajic 92 (I)

Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Chiriches, Koulibaly, Strinic; Allan (Hamsik 59), Valdifiori, David Lopez (Jorginho 66); Callejon, Gabbiadini (Higuain 72), Mertens

Inter: Handanovic; Nagatomo, Miranda, Juan Jesus, Telles; Medel (Melo 87), Kondogbia; Biabiany, Ljajic, Perisic (Palacio 73); Jovetic

Ref: Valeri

Sent off: Mertens 88 (N)

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