Knowing Napoli will again be among the likelier contenders for their crown, Milan started on the front foot, with Theo Hernandez going close and firing across goal in the opening stages. The Rossoneri pressed for more, and veteran Olivier Giroud had two chances to open the scoring inside the first 15 minutes of the game, with the French striker firstly heading over the bar inside the six-yard box, followed quickly by a snapshot brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Alex Meret.
Milan continued to press Napoli back in their own half. It felt like only a matter of time before Stefano Pioli’s side would take the lead, but again they found Meret a stumbling block as he powerfully saved a Rade Krunić header at the back post. In response, Pioli made a change at the break, taking Davide Calabria off and replacing him with the Barcelona loanee Sergiño Dest in a straight swap at the back.
Luciano Spalletti’s side had enjoyed success at the San Siro, picking up wins in their last two visits and found the key to another victory when they were awarded a penalty in the opening stages of the second period. Dest brought down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the area, and Matteo Politano stepped up, firing into the net to give Gli Azzurri the lead. Napoli’s success would not come without its trials though, and midway through the second-half, Meret pulled off a fine low save to deny Junior Messias.
Mere minutes later, Giroud was on the end of a perfect Hernandez cross to fire home for his fourth goal in the league this season and draw the game level. Yet, sprited as ever in the face of a home side that had enjoyed 22 games unbeaten at the San Siro prior to kick-off, Napoli went back in front when Giovanni Simeone flicked a header into the net to decisively restore the Neapolitans’ lead and send them top of the table.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Piotr Zielinski (SSC Napoli)
