Higuain downs former club Napoli

Gonzalo Higuain struck an early goal to give Juventus a 1-0 win against Serie A leader Napoli and end his former club's unbeaten start to the league season Friday.

0 - Juventus made a clean sheet against Napoli at San Paolo in Serie A for the first time since March 1997. Defence. #NapoliJuventus

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) December 1, 2017

Champion Juve defended resolutely and were rarely in danger despite allowing their uninspired opponent to dominate possession at the San Paolo stadium.

3 - Napoli have lost only 3 of their last 45 Serie A games, 2 of these against Juventus. Nightmare. #NapoliJuventus

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) December 1, 2017

The win took Juve within one point of Napoli who had gone unbeaten through their first 14 games, dropping only four points.

SQUAD ??? @juventusfc pic.twitter.com/GRK4wS1Iah

— VecchiaSignora.com (@forumJuventus) December 1, 2017

Napoli remained on 38 with Juve on 37 and Inter Milan, who will go top if they beat Chievo at home Sunday, on 36.

"Roman blood... Daniele De Rossi is our captain!"

The Curva Sud have spoken... ?❤️ #ASRoma #RomaSPAL pic.twitter.com/rJ5ahuEQXw— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 1, 2017

Fourth-placed AS Roma also closed the gap with a 3-1 win over SPAL after the visitor had Felipe Dias sent off in the 11th minute for fouling Edin Dzeko when the Bosnia player had a clear run on goal.

Boyhood Roma fan... ✅ Academy graduate... ✅ First goal for Roma... ✅

What a moment for Lorenzo Pellegrini! pic.twitter.com/37uz5ryOJW— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 1, 2017

RESULTSNapoli 0 Juventus 1 (Higuain 12)Roma 3 (Dzeko 19, Strootman 32, Pellegrini 53) SPAL 1 (Viviani 55)  SATURDAY'S MATCHTorino v Atalanta