Milan seemed to have it wrapped up with an early Olivier Giroud brace of headers, but magnificent pieces of skill from Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori snatched a 2-2 draw for Napoli.
The Rossoneri were badly in need of a boost after defeats to Juventus and PSG. While Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez returned from suspension, Malick Thiaw was banned, joining injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samuel Chukwueze, Simon Kjaer, Ismael Bennacer, Marco Sportiello and Mattia Caldara. Victor Osimhen was still out after an injury on international duty, with Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa only fit for the bench.
These sides met four times last season, Milan winning 4-0 here and then eliminating Napoli from the Champions League quarter-final.
A Yunus Musah shot was deflected into the path of Olivier Giroud, forcing Amir Rrahmani into a desperate block, but Pierre Kalulu pulled up with a muscular problem after just 18 minutes, so Marco Pellegrino had to make his Milan debut.
Nonetheless, the visitors broke the deadlock as Christian Pulisic whipped in a left-footed cross from the right and Giroud timed the run perfectly for a glancing header, as Alex Meret with one hand was unable to keep it out. It was the veteran’s first goal in all competition since September 1.
Maignan ran a huge risk when flying outside the box to make the tackle on Matteo Politano, then Kvaratskhelia rolled across the face of goal only for Politano to tap it onto the side-netting.
It was a costly error, because Milan doubled their lead with a very similar goal, this time Davide Calabria’s cross from the right found Giroud to hold off Amir Rrahmani and nod in from six yards.
Tijjani Reijnders should’ve done better when sweeping over the bar first time from the Theo Hernandez pull-back, then Giacomo Raspadori volleyed a Piotr Zielinski pull-back off target.
Milan threatened a third on the stroke of half-time with Meret getting down to smother Musah’s effort at the base of the near post.
Napoli were struggling badly and coach Rudi Garcia made three changes at half-time, introducing Giovanni Simeone, Leo Ostigard and Mathias Olivera, while Pulisic went off with a muscular issue.
It paid off, as Politano immediately got them back into the game with a sensational solo effort. He flicked it over Pellegrino, cut back inside Theo Hernandez and smashed it into the roof of the net from a tricky angle with his left foot.
Politano then sent Giovanni Di Lorenzo to the by-line and the captain went for goal, forcing Maignan to parry with his legs at the near post.
Maignan fumbled another Di Lorenzo cross that Napoli could not make the most of, then Fikayo Tomori with a decisive header to prevent Simeone scoring.
The pressure paid off, as Napoli completed the comeback for 2-2 with a marvellous Raspadori free kick, but the Milan wall seemed to be in the wrong position, as he curled it around the side into the near post. Incredibly, it was the first direct free kick scored in Serie A all season.
Leao completed a give and go with Musah’s back-heel flick to drill low, forcing Meret to get down and palm it round the base of the upright.
Giroud and Leao were both furious when substituted 10 minutes from time, but Napoli ended the game with 10 men as Natan received his second yellow card for going in late on Romero.
Calabria almost won it for Milan in stoppages, his header finding the wrong side of the net at the back post. Napoli had a huge chance too with the last kick of the game, Maignan using his legs to parry the Kvaratskhelia strike from close range.
Napoli 2-2 Milan
Giroud 22, 31 (M), Politano 50 (N), Raspadori 63 (N)
Sent off: Natan 89 (N)
Player statistic
| 22' |  |
Olivier Giroud (Assist: Christian Pulisic) | ||
| 31' | |
Olivier Giroud (Assist: Davide Calabria) |
| Matteo Politano (Assist: Giovanni Di Lorenzo) |
|
50' | ||
| Natan |  |
53' | ||
| 55' | |
Tijjani Reijnders | ||
| 62' | |
Luka Romero | ||
| Giacomo Raspadori | |
63' | ||
| Giovanni Di Lorenzo | |
65' | ||
| 78' | |
Yunus Musah | ||
| Alessandro Zanoli | |
86' | ||
| Natan |  |
89' |
Match statistic
