Christian Pulisic created a purpose for Alexis Saelemaekers and scored one other, however the Pervis Estupinan pink card let Napoli again in, as 10-man Milan held on for a tense 2-1 victory.
The Rossoneri have been on a roll after , scoring 9 targets and conceding zero. Rafael Leao returned after six weeks out, leaving solely Ardon Jashari on the remedy desk. The Partenopei have been the one crew with an ideal Serie A file, however have been decimated by accidents, shedding Leonardo Spinazzola, Mathias Olivera, Romelu Lukaku, Alessandro Buongiorno and Amir Rrahmani, so Miguel Gutierrez and Luca Marianucci have been thrown into the beginning XI for his or her debuts.
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MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Alexis Saelemaekers of AC Milan
scores a purpose throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
It was the proper begin for the hosts, as Christian Pulisic began the run from inside his personal half, flew down the left and shrugged off Marianucci’s deal with to roll throughout for the simplest of Alexis Saelemaekers tap-ins on the again submit.
Napoli fought again, as Mike Maignan made two saves in 10 seconds on the Gutierrez header on the again submit and Scott McTominay angled drive.
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Whereas the Partenopei saved possession for lengthy durations, Milan remained harmful, Pulisic sending Youssouf Fofana clear to blast over the bar.
They doubled their lead when Strahinja Pavlovic rode weak challenges down the left and pulled again, Fofana laying it off for Pulisic to brush dwelling from eight yards.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates after scoring a purpose throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
Fikayo Tomori pulled out on the final second to keep away from fouling McTominay contained in the penalty space, whereas Saelemaekers stung Alex Meret’s gloves on the close to submit.
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Giovanni Di Lorenzo additionally examined Maignan when acrobatically controlling a Kevin De Bruyne ball excessive, whereas Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa turned a free header effectively extensive on Matteo Politano’s cross.
After the restart, Anguissa and McTominay each went for the header on a cross from the proper, forcing a Maignan response save, however then Pervis Estupinan dragged Di Lorenzo again within the six-yard field for a penalty. The referee added a pink card following the VAR On-Area Assessment, as Estupinan made no try and play the ball, stopping the clear scoring alternative. De Bruyne despatched Maignan the flawed method to convert from the spot.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli
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scores a penalty purpose throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
Rafael Leao made his Serie A season debut, having been out because the Coppa Italia win over Bari on August 17.
Di Lorenzo nodded an Anguissa cross over, whereas Milan misplaced Fikayo Tomori to a muscular harm. Rafael Leao wasted a promising counter-attack, and Rabiot charged down the Eljif Elmas end after squirming away between a crowd of gamers.
Noa Lang minimize inside from the left for a right-foot shot smothered by Maignan, however he was crushed by a David Neres screamer that was deflected to clip the highest of the far submit in stoppages.
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Neres noticed one other long-range roller palmed around the upright by Maignan throughout a late Napoli siege, however 10-man Milan held on for the victory.
Milan 2-1 Napoli
Saelemaekers 3 (M), Pulisic 31 (M), De Bruyne pen 60 (N)
Despatched off: Estupinan 57 (M)