NAPLES, Italy, April 18 (Reuters) - Napoli's slim hopes ⁠of defending their Serie A league title all but ended with a 2-0 home defeat by ⁠Lazio on Saturday that left them 12 points adrift of leaders Inter Milan with five games ‌left.

Inter, who beat Cagliari 3-0 on Friday, are on 78 points, with Napoli on 66. AC Milan are three points behind ahead of their game at Hellas Verona on Sunday and Lazio are ninth in the standings on 47 points.