Milan’s 4-0 demolition of Napoli away from home was a statistical anomaly in the history between these clubs, as well as the record for the runaway Serie A leaders.
It is not entirely unusual for these sides to surprise each other, because for the sixth consecutive meeting in the League there was an away victory, three at San Siro and three at the Stadio Maradona.
The Rossoneri had not won in Naples by four clear goals in Serie A since November 1992, when Marco van Basten found the net four times and Stefano Eranio completed the 5-1 rout.
As for the Partenopei, their home record tends to be very strong and their last home defeat by four clear goals was another 5-1 with Bologna in October 2000.
Luciano Spalletti had not conceded four goals in a home fixture in Serie A since March 2009, when Juventus beat his Roma 4-1.
However, Stefano Pioli maintains his reputation as a giant-killer, because since he took charge in October 2019, Milan have won on five different occasions against the top-placed Serie A team going into the round.
That is at least two more than any other team has managed in that timeframe.
Inter were the last Serie A leaders to concede four home goals when they were beaten 4-1 at San Siro by Fiorentina in September 2015.