Napoli coach Rafa Benitez believes Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at Juventus will only make his team stronger.

The Naples outfit suffered their second loss of the campaign in Turin and the result saw them drop to third place in Serie A, four points adrift of league leaders Roma and three behind reigning champions Juventus.

“Intelligent people know that Juve are still a strong team,” Benitez told reporters.

“Napoli are improving but Juve have won for a long time and has a budget of 100 million (euros) more than we do.

“We knew that this game will be difficult but at least we have learned from it. This loss will make us stronger.”

Napoli were 1-0 down after Fernando Llorente put Juve ahead after just two minutes and the visitors never recovered.

“To be behind early on against a team that is so strong changes everything,” Benitez said.

“We struggled for 15 minutes and then we showed quality and character until Juve scored two beautiful goals.

“It is no consolation, because we lost, but everyone knows we are only at 75 per cent and we have room for improvement.”

Napoli host Parma on November 23.