Matteo Politano got here off the bench for a late purpose to offer Napoli victory over Milan, sending them into second place, with Inter’s lead on the prime prolonged to seven factors.
This was an important crossroads within the marketing campaign, as third hosted second to see who would emerge to problem leaders Inter.
NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: SSC Napoli supporters throughout the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Picture by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photos)
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Rasmus Hojlund was dominated out by a abdomen bug, so Giovane was the , as a result of Romelu Lukaku was , with David Neres, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani and Antonio Vergara injured.
NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: Massimiliano Allegri AC Milan greets Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach earlier than the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Picture by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photos)
Each Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic have been solely match for the bench, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek returning after six weeks out with facial fractures, and Matteo Gabbia a long-term absentee, so Max Allegri launched a brand new entrance pairing of Niclas Fullkrug and Christopher Nkunku.
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NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli battles for possession with Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan throughout the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Picture by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photos)
Luka Modric squirmed by a crowd to pressure Alessandro Buongiorno right into a bookable offence, and from that free kick Strahinja Pavlovic nodded inches vast of the close to put up.
Leonardo Spinazzola dribbled previous Youssouf Fofana to bend a end simply vast of the far prime nook, with Nkunku failing to maintain his end down when despatched clear down the left by Fofana.
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Giovane sprinted onto a by ball and was shaping as much as shoot when blocked off by Pavlovic, however he pressured a giant one-handed save out of Mike Maignan with a strike from exterior the world after the restart.
Maignan additionally parried a Kevin De Bruyne effort from the by-line on the close to put up when despatched by by Spinazzola, whereas Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa nodded vast from a promising place.
The breakthrough got here within the remaining levels, as Mathias Olivera’s cross to the again put up was solely flicked on with a weak Koni De Winter header, discovering Matteo Politano on the volley with the left foot from a decent angle to offer Napoli the lead.
That magic left foot ✨ Matteo Politano offers Napoli the lead in a should win recreation 🔥 📺 TNT Sports activities and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/jHkoYanuhX
Santiago Gimenez noticed his header sail simply over the bar from a Zachary Athekame cross, whereas Rafael Leao fired over when going for a similar ball as Pulisic.
Napoli 1-0 Milan
Politano 79 (N)