MILAN — Whatever adjustments Antonio Conte made during halftime proved beneficial, as Napoli secured a 1-0 victory over Empoli in their Serie A match on Sunday, showcasing a much stronger performance in the second half.

The sole goal of the match came from a penalty by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, allowing Napoli to gain a three-point advantage in the Serie A standings ahead of Inter Milan’s game against Roma later in the day.

This match marked the first time Empoli’s home supporters witnessed a goal this season, as their previous three home games at Stadio Carlo Castellani ended in draws, with no goals scored.

The defeat added to Empoli’s challenges, marking their second consecutive loss after having been unbeaten until their setback against Lazio just before the international break.

Former player Elia Caprile, now the goalkeeper for Napoli, was instrumental in the win, making several key saves that thwarted Empoli’s attempts to find the net.

In the first half, Empoli appeared more dominant and came close to scoring, with Lorenzo Colombo narrowly missing the target.

Regrettably for the hosts, they failed to convert their chances, and Napoli took control of the game in the 63rd minute when Tino Anjorin fouled Matteo Politano in the penalty area.

Kvaratskhelia remained composed under pressure, executing a stuttered run-up to deceive the goalkeeper before calmly placing the ball into the center of the net.

Since suffering a defeat on opening day against Hellas Verona in Conte’s first match, Napoli has found its rhythm, winning six of their last seven Serie A fixtures, with the exception of a scoreless draw against Juventus.