Mattia Destro struck in either half as Bologna dented Napoli's Serie A title hopes with a dramatic 3-2 win on Sunday.

Napoli travelled to the Dall'Ara stadium expected to maintain a long unbeaten run that has seen Maurizio Sarri's men become bona fide challengers to defending champions Juventus.

But the Azzurri struggled to recover after going 2-0 down before the half-hour as Luca Rossettini added to Destro's 14th-minute opener.

Destro hit his second on the hour and Bologna seemed to be out of sight, although Napoli came fighting back at the death when Gonzalo Higuain hit a brace to reduce arrears and set up a tense finale.

But Napoli failed to produce a third goal as Bologna hung on for just their fifth win of the season to move two points clear of the drop zone.

"Before the game I told the lads not to think too much about Napoli, they have top players but it was important to focus on our strengths, to press them, attack and try to put them in difficulty," said Bologna coach Roberto Donadoni, a former Napoli coach.

"The lads were incredible, they went out and did exactly what we had planned to do."

Napoli had gone top of the pile for the first time in 25 years last week with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan.

However, Inter reclaimed first place with a 1-0 win against Genoa on Saturday and are now two points clear of Napoli at the summit.

Fiorentina, who sit third, can move up to second at the expense of Napoli if they account for Udinese later Sunday.

Sarri had warned his side risked being fatigued due to their Europa League commitments but suggested Destro had been marginally offside for his opener.

"We went a goal down because of a refereeing mistake and at the start of the second half we had four clear chances to score," said Sarri.

"When we didn't, and they got their third goal, the heads went down and that is a big mistake because the final minutes showed we still had plenty to give."

Napoli enjoyed a bright start but Bologna, who have enjoyed a renaissance since Donadoni took over from the sacked Delio Rossi last month, soaked up the early pressure and were quickly into their stride.

Just before the quarter hour Napoli defender Raul Albiol was caught out by the pace and guile of Destro, who muscled his way towards goal to collect Amadou Diawara's long ball and beat Pepe Reina down low.

Bologna were playing with confidence and Albiol had to intercept a dangerous Saphir Taider cross towards the back post, but from the resulting corner Rossettini was left unmarked to send a bullet header past Reina on 21 minutes.

It sparked a quick Napoli reaction with Antonio Mirante saving from Lorenzo Insigne and then in spectacular fashion to touch Jose Callejon's deflected volley onto the post.

Napoli were firing on all cylinders when they emerged from the interval, but Higuain, Allan and Callejon all missed opportunities.

Then an error by Marek Hamsik allowed Destro to grab his second, Reina looking nervous as the ex-Roma striker fired under his body on the hour.

It could have been four for the hosts but, only yards from goal, Anthony Mounier fired over Reina's crossbar.

Higuain reduced the arrears on 87 minutes when he flicked Insigne's cross past Mirante while stuck between two defenders and then again when he collected a Callejon long ball to fire past Mirante from just inside the box.

But it was not enough for Napoli, who suffered their first defeat since losing to Sassuolo on the opening day of the season.