Napoli were beaten 3-2 by Bologna as Arthur Rowe's injury-time goal snatched the points for the visitors on Matchday 36 of Serie A.
The Azzurri made a poor start and found themselves 2-0 down after Federico Bernardeschi's fierce finish and a Riccardo Orsolini penalty.
However, Antonio Conte's side rallied before the break and Giovanni Di Lorenzo – making his first start since sustaining a knee injury in January – pulled one back to make it 2-1 on the stroke of half time.
Alisson Santos levelled the scores soon after the restart with a fine finish from Rasmus Hojlund's pass but Napoli were unable to push on and find a third.
With the matched seemingly headed for a draw, Rowe scored a stunning acrobatic goal to clinch the win for Bologna.
Antonio Conte offered the following analysis after the match:
“It's not easy to come back from two goals down. Unfortunately it's not the first time it's happened to us this season and that means we haven't always started games with the right level of conviction.
“Afterwards we managed to get back into the match, and deservedly so, and we tried to win it. But as the saying goes, at a certain point of the game if you can't win it, you mustn't lose it. And we were naïve in conceding the third goal.
“I don't think we deserved to lose. We want to confirm our place in the Champions League. Now we have two more games and we'll give our all to achieve our goal.”
One of the standout performers with his goal after a fine run and finish, Alisson Santos also offered his take:
“I scored but I'm sad about the result. I wish I could have celebrated with a win. The mood is not good right now, but we want to bounce straight back and secure Champions League football.
“I've improved a lot since joining Napoli. Working with Conte has helped me technically. The boss talks to me a lot and I feel I'm a better player thanks to his advice. I hope to keep growing like this.”
Napoli 2-3 Bologna (HT 1-2)
Scorers: Bernardeschi 9, Orsolini 34, Di Lorenzo 45+2, Alisson Santos 48, Rowe 90+2.
NAPOLI: Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano (Spinazzola 85), Lobotka (Gilmour 76), McTominay, Gutierrez (Mazzocchi 87) Giovane (Elmas 76), Alisson; Hojlund.
Coach: Antonio Conte.
BOLOGNA: Pessina; Joao Mario (Zortea 64), Helland (Heggem 82), Lucumì, Miranda; Ferguson (Sohm 82), Freuler, Pobega (Moro 81), Orsolini, Castro, Bernardeschi (Rowe 73).
Coach: Vincenzo Italiano.
Referee: Piccinini.
Booked: Joao Mario, Bernardeschi, Helland, Lucumi, Politano
