AC Milan laid down a marker in the Serie A title race on Sunday with a statement 2-1 victory over Napoli, a result that sent them top of the table despite playing the final half-hour with 10 men.
Christian Pulisic shone at San Siro, assisting Alexis Saelemaekers’ third-minute opener before doubling Milan’s lead just after the half-hour mark. The American forward’s decisive display against an injury-hit Napoli lifted Milan to 12 points, level with champions Napoli and Roma — 2-0 winners over Verona — but ahead on goal difference.
“What we did out there today was incredible. It was a top, top performance,” Pulisic told DAZN. “The manager has done really well to get the best out of every player here. We’ve got a lot of quality and we showed that on the pitch.”
Pulisic, who has already netted six times this season across all competitions, also produced a defence-splitting pass to release Youssouf Fofana earlier in the match, earning a standing ovation when he was replaced by Davide Bartesaghi shortly before Kevin De Bruyne converted Napoli’s 60th-minute penalty.
That spot-kick came after Pervis Estupiñán was sent off for hauling back Giovanni Di Lorenzo, forcing Milan to endure sustained pressure as Antonio Conte’s men pushed for an equaliser. David Neres came closest for the visitors, striking the woodwork in stoppage time, but the hosts held firm to claim a fourth straight league win.
Napoli must now regroup ahead of their Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon. “We have to do better for their goals,” Conte admitted. “It wasn’t easy after going behind so early, but we pressed high and created chances. Still, we’re conceding too much, and that has to improve.”
Elsewhere, Artem Dovbyk scored his first goal of the season at the Stadio Olimpico before Matias Soulé sealed Roma’s win with 11 minutes remaining, lifting Gian Piero Gasperini’s side temporarily into second place. Gasperini acknowledged his players were fatigued after a congested schedule: “Some were not at their sharpest… we struggled more than we should have.”
Verona, still winless and sitting 16th, missed a golden chance to equalise when Gift Orban somehow struck the bar from close range in the 28th minute.
In Tuscany, Pisa were denied a historic first Serie A win in over 30 years after Henrik Meister’s goal was ruled out for handball by VAR in a goalless draw against Fiorentina. Juan Cuadrado later hit the post, leaving Alberto Gilardino’s newly promoted side stuck in the relegation zone with two points.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Milan loanee Francesco Camarda continued his rise, scoring his first Serie A goal with a stoppage-time header to rescue Lecce a 2-2 draw with Bologna.
