Napoli extend lead at top of Serie A with victory at AC Milan

Romelu Lukaku and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were both on target as Napoli beat AC Milan 2-0 at San Siro to extend their lead at the top of Serie A to seven points.

Milan dominated much of the game, but under Antonio Conte, Napoli are tight at the back and potent on the break.

The hosts contributed to their own downfall as Strahinja Pavlovic played on Lukaku and then was brushed over by the Belgian before the opener after five minutes.

The Rossoneri had the best of the match with the ball living in Napoli’s half for long periods, but Kvaratskhelia scored a trademark goal, cutting in from the left to score with his right foot.

Milan were unlucky not to be level when Alvaro Morata headed home Samuel Chukwueze’s cross just after the break, but from that point onwards they seldom looked like getting back into the game. Paulo Fonseca will be facing questions with his side down in eighth place.

Talking Point – A difficult couple of weeks for Fonseca

Paulo Fonseca will be heavily criticised for leaving Rafael Leao on the bench. The winger looked in sparkling form when he came on just after the hour mark.

The Portuguese will likely contest he does not have the elite talent at his disposal synonymous with previous Milan teams – particularly with Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders suspended, Christian Pulisic ill and Luka Jovic and Tammy Abraham injured.

But the selection calls remain strange. While Leao has not been at his best this season, he is always likely to be more dangerous than Noah Okafor.

Milan next travel to Monza and Cagliari in Serie A, sandwiched by a trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League. If they do not register a victory in any of these matches, Fonseca may not be there when the players return from the international break.

Player of the Match – Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli)

The summer signing from Torino is a rock at the back for Conte’s side and remarkably comfortable in possession. He gave little change to Morata and was unperturbed when Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Samuel Chukwueze threatened.

Player Ratings

AC Milan: Maignan 6; Emerson Royal 6, Thiaw 6, Pavlovic 5, Terracciano 6; Musah 7, Fofana 6; Chukwueze 7, Loftus-Cheek 6, Okafor 5; Morata 6.

Subs: Leao 7, Pulisic 6, Camrarda 6.

Napoli: Meret 7; Di Lorenzo 6, Rrahmani 6, Buongiorno 8*, Olivera 7; Anguissa 7, Gilmour 7, McTominay 6; Politano 7, Lukaku 7, Kvaratskhelia 7.

Subs: Mazzocchi 6, Neres 6, Simeone 6, Zerbin, Folorunsho.

Match Highlights

5′ GOAL! MILAN 0-1 NAPOLI (LUKAKU) So easy for Napoli, a ball through from Anguissa to Lukaku, who was played onside by Pavlovic and then when the defender got back to challenge him the Belgian brushed him aside, before slotting home with ease.

18′ MUSAH SHOOTS FROM EDGE OF AREA And he’s only inches from the target, with Meret seemingly scrambling across his line in vain.

20′ CHUKWUEZE CUTS IN FROM RIGHT AND LAUNCHES A SHOT The livewire winger’s effort was low and curling inside the corner but Meret got down to push the effort away. A good period of play for Milan.

43′ GOAL! MILAN 0-2 NAPOLI (KVARATSKHELIA) We’ve seen it so many times from Napoli’s star man. He raced in from the left flank and curled an effort low just inside the far post.

47′ GOAL! MILAN (MORATA) 1-2 NAPOLI A fine inswinging cross from Chukwueze was begging to be headed home and Morata did just that, leaning backwards but getting enough power to force it home inside the post, despite Meret getting a hand to the ball.

48′ GOAL DISALLOWED! MILAN 0-2 NAPOLI Unfortunate for Milan, Morata briefly veered into an offside position and then back behind the Napoli defence before scoring.

80′ ANGUISSA WITH A LOW ROCKET Maignan was relieved to see it fly just wide as he would not have got down quickly enough to stop it.

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