Napoli beat AC Milan 1-0 as Matteo Politano’s late goal lifts them to second, extending their winning run and boosting title hopes.
Napoli strengthened their grip on second place with a narrow 1-0 win over AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. A late goal from Matteo Politano proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter.
Antonio Conte’s side made it five straight Serie A wins and kept their slim title hopes alive. Milan, meanwhile, suffered a damaging setback in the race at the top.
The match began cautiously, with both sides focused on defensive structure. Youssouf Fofana tested Vanja Milinkovic-Savic early, forcing a comfortable save. Napoli responded through Leonardo Spinazzola, who curled a shot just wide of the far post. That effort stood as the clearest opening in a quiet opening spell.
Milan looked dangerous on set pieces and transitions. Strahinja Pavlovic came close with a header, while the visitors maintained good defensive shape.
Napoli struggled to create clear openings despite controlling possession for long spells. Giovane was denied by a timely recovery block as Milan held firm at the back. Scott McTominay attempted an overhead kick late in the half, but it drifted wide. Both teams lacked precision in the final third.
At the break, the game remained finely balanced. Neither side had done enough to claim a clear advantage.
The second half opened with more urgency from both teams. Giovane forced a strong save from Mike Maignan with a powerful strike from distance. Milan responded by introducing attacking reinforcements, including Santiago Gimenez. The game became more open, with transitions occurring more frequently.
Despite the increased tempo, clear chances remained limited. Both defences continued to hold their shape well under pressure.
The breakthrough arrived in the 79th minute. Napoli substitutes combined effectively to unlock the Milan defence.
Alisson Santos produced a clever pass to Mathias Olivera on the left. His cross was partially cleared, allowing Politano to fire home from a tight angle. Milan pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages. Gimenez came closest, but his header landed on the roof of the net.
Politano’s impact off the bench proved decisive. Olivera also impressed with his attacking contribution, while Napoli’s defence remained solid throughout.
Napoli registered 10 shots with three on target, producing an expected goals figure of 0.80. Milan managed seven attempts and an xG of 0.60. The hosts have now won five consecutive Serie A matches for the first time this season. It highlights their strong late push in the campaign.
Conte also secured back-to-back home league wins over Milan. That marks a rare achievement in this fixture in recent years.
Napoli remain seven points behind leaders Inter with seven matches remaining. Their title chances are slim but still mathematically alive.
Napoli’s focus now shifts to maintaining their position in the top two. Securing Champions League qualification remains the primary objective. They face a challenging run-in, including fixtures against Parma, Lazio, Bologna, Cremonese, and Como. Consistency will be key in the final weeks.
Milan must respond quickly to stay in contention. With the gap widening at the top, every point will be crucial in the closing stages. Milan faces Udinese, Verona, Juventus, and Sassuolo in their remaining Serie A fixtures.
