Napoli are top of the table and have ended Milan’s 22-round unbeaten Serie A record with a 2-1 result at San Siro, sealed by Matteo Politano’s penalty and a Giovanni Simeone header.

This was a head-to-head between joint leaders going into this weekend – along with Atalanta – but both sides missed key players. Rafael Leao was suspended, with Divock Origi, Ante Rebic, Alessandro Florenzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic injured. Victor Osimhen and Diego Demme didn’t make the trip, while Luciano Spalletti was in the stands on a one-match ban.

Watch the highlights here.

The hosts had a more confident start and nearly scored when Rade Krunic found Olivier Giroud, his shot fingertipped onto the crossbar by Alex Meret.

Simon Kjaer was booked for taking down Kvicha Kvaratskhelia on the outside edge of the box after a rapid change of direction, while Giroud acrobatically flicked over the bar on a Krunic assist when he should’ve left it for Davide Calabria.

Meret made another sensational reaction save on Krunic’s header from a corner at the back post, while Matteo Politano’s header at the far post kept Mike Maignan alert and a Kvaratskhelia back-heel flick couldn’t find the net.

Kvaratskhelia got Calabria and Kjaer booked, so they were replaced by Pierre Kalulu and Sergino Dest at half-time. However, it did not help deal with the Georgian at all, because immediately Dest was spotted via VAR catching Kvaratskhelia on the side of the foot for a penalty. Politano converted hard and low through the middle, as it squirmed under Maignan to give Napoli the lead.

Milan fought back, Giovanni Di Lorenzo charging down a Theo Hernandez header at the back post, then he set up Saelemaekers for a shot charged down by Kim Min-jae.

De Ketelaere released Junior Messias through the middle, forcing another tough save from Meret, and the equaliser arrived soon after.

Brahim Diaz and De Ketelaere combined well to send Theo Hernandez down the left, pulling back from the by-line where Giroud had peeled away from defenders to turn in undisturbed from eight yards. It was the France international’s third consecutive Serie A match on target.

They tried to repeat it moments later, but this time Amir Rrahmani was ready to intercept, then Giroud fired over.

Instead, just as Milan were pushing hard, Napoli restored their advantage with Giovanni Simeone getting away from Fikayo Tomori for a glancing header on the smart Mario Rui cross from the left.

Alessio Zerbin and Yacine Adli forced saves, then Pierre Kalulu smashed a strike onto the crossbar from 10 yards after Giroud flicked on Ismael Bennacer’s pass.

Milan 1-2 Napoli

Politano pen 55 (N), Giroud 69 (M), Simeone 78 (N)

8 thought on “Serie A | Milan 1-2 Napoli: Simeone seals Scudetto showdown”
  1. Fantastic game, a draw probably was a fair result. Any chance we can send Dest back already? His initial comments really only reflected he wanted to come to get minutes before the World Cup, doesn’t want to be there and is well below par.

  2. Milan unlucky not to get a draw with the Kalulu and Giroud efforts on to the crossbar. But defensively, they have been bad this season. Kessie is being missed

  3. @ Dollarumma99
    I hope that’s the case. So far, despite all the departures over the summer, Napoli are playing quite well and perhaps better than anticipated. Milan had the chances to win or at the least tie.

  4. Good game, especially the tension in the second half. Could have went either way.

    Several teams could be the one to win the title this season.

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