Carlos Tevez hat-trick helps Juve to six-point lead

Napoli kept alive their hopes of a first Serie A title since 1990 alive with an epic 4-2 win over 10-man Inter Milan after a Carlos Tevez hat-trick had put leaders Juventus six points clear with a 4-0 rout of Sassuolo on Sunday.

Goals from Gonzalo Higuain, Dries Mertens, Blerim Dzemaili and Jose Callejon saw Rafael Benitez beat his old club in a hugely entertaining contest and move to within eight points of Juventus in third place after falling 11 behind earlier in the day.

Goran Pandev missed an added time penalty after winning the spot kick himself just after coming on as a substitute, but it made no difference to the result, and Inter stay fifth on 28 points, seven away from Champions League football.

Fiorentina took fourth spot with a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Bologna in which Giuseppe Rossi scored his 13th goal of the season.

Tevez, overlooked by Argentina since 2011, struck for Juve with simple finishes in the 15th, 45th and 68th minutes to move Antonio Conte’s side up to 43 points, six ahead of AS Roma.

The 29-year-old also set up Federico Peluso’s first Juventus goal in the 28th minute, sending in a beautiful free kick that the midfielder headed home with the help of Sassuolo defender Luca Antei, and was given a standing ovation when substituted shortly after netting his third.