Milinkovic-Savic saves penalty and Napoli against Como
Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved a penalty from Alvaro Morata as the defending Serie A champion secured a goalless draw with Como, which was unable to break the unbeaten run of Antonio Conte's side that has lasted since August.
Como got off to an inauspicious start as defender Marc-Oliver Kempf was forced off the field with an injury just eight minutes in.
But the visitors were soon awarded a penalty when Spanish forward Morata cleared the Napoli defensive line as he chased a through ball into the box, and went down as Milinkovic-Savic rushed out to intercept him.
Morata, however, missed the opportunity to put Como ahead from the spot, with his shot down the middle bouncing off Milinkovic-Savic in the 26th minute.
The Serbian keeper has now saved six of the past 10 penalties he has faced in Serie A.
Como keeper Jean Butez made a diving save to deny Scott McTominay as Napoli looked to put the pressure back on the visitors.
Eljif Elmas rushed into the Como box late in the first half, but Butez kept out his right-footed attempt as well.
Matteo Politano also tested Butez 10 minutes into the second half with a curling left-footed shot from the edge of the box, but the French keeper dived to his right to make the save.
Politano set up Rasmus Hojlund with a cross in the 80th minute, but the Danish forward, on loan from Manchester United, ended up heading it straight to the keeper, as the match ended in a stalemate.
League leader Napoli, which failed to score in a league game for only the second time this season, is on 22 points.
It is a point above AS Roma, which visits AC Milan on Monday (AEDT).
Fifth-placed Como, unbeaten in its past nine competitive matches, is five points below Napoli.
"I'm happy to a certain extent. When you play like that, you have to win, but we took another step forward against a very strong team that I really like," Como manager Cesc Fabregas said.
"We are a team that's improving, but there's still a lot to do to get better. I consider myself lucky, we are in the middle of a long process."
Conte was also complimentary of Como's performance.
"Today, Como is a reality. Congratulations to them," he said.
"It was a very balanced, European-style match between two courageous teams. I am much happier today than on other occasions when we have won."
But Napoli has now opened the door for Roma to move to the Serie A summit, if it can beat Milan on Monday.
