Napoli have turned up the heat on Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas with a 3-1 victory over the Blues in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the San Paolo. Villas-Boas, who left several of his star names on the bench and was without the injured John Terry, looked set for a welcome boost when Juan Mata opened the scoring but Napoli hit back strongly with a double from Ezequiel Lavezzi sandwiching Edinson Cavani’s goal. Chelsea found themselves under the cosh in the early stages as Petr Cech parried an effort from Lavezzi and kept out Cavani’s shot with his right boot before tipping away Christian Maggio’s drive. But they were gifted a 27th-minute lead when Paolo Cannavaro sliced Daniel Sturridge’s cross straight into the path of Mata who coolly side-footed home. Napoli levelled on 38 when Raul Meireles allowed Lavezzi space on the edge of the area to curl in a 25-yard shot. Chelsea were stunned by a second Napoli goal on the stroke of half-time as Cavani stole in behind Branislav Ivanovic to convert Gokhan Inler’s cross with his shoulder.
The visitors enjoyed a good spell at the start of the second half although Lavezzi missed a golden chance for the hosts before David Luiz’s error handed him the opportunity to make amends on 65 with Cavani teeing him up. It could have been worse for the Blues but Ashley Cole was perfectly placed to clear Maggio’s shot off the line, while fellow sub Frank Lampard went close to grabbing a late goal for Chelsea.