Napoli 0-4: AC Milan: Runaway Serie A leaders humbled at home as Rafael Leao stars

Two goals in each half saw AC Milan hammer league leaders Napoli 4-0, as the reigning Serie A champions stunned the champions elect in the 150th meeting between the Italian giants.

Napoli were without star striker Victor Osimhen and it appeared to show in a performance that produced very little in the way of clear-cut chances, while at the other end they were picked apart at will.

There wasn’t much to separate the sides in the opening exchanges until Rafael Leao broke the deadlock in the 17th minute with a silky chip over Alex Meret after a pinpoint through-ball from Brahim Diaz.

Napoli and their adoring fans were stunned, but it went from bad to worse eight minutes later. Having set up the opener, Diaz doubled The Rossoneri’s advantage with a cool finish from close range after some excellent build-up play.

The hosts came out after the break on the front foot but were hit on the counter as Leao got his second and Milan’s third in the 59th minute, gliding past Giovanni Di Lorenzo before firing a shot past Meret from a tight angle.

And Alexis Saelemaekers put the finishing touches on a brilliant performance, wrapping up the three points with an incredible solo goal in the 67th minute.

The result lifts Milan from fifth to third in the table, while Napoli’s third defeat of the season means they remain 16 points clear of Lazio as they close in on the title.

Napoli travel to Lecce next and Milan host Empoli before the rivals resume battle in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

TALKING POINT – MILAN BACK IN TOP-FOUR RACE

Milan came into this crunch match on a poor run of form, having lost two in three and picked up just one point in that stretch. Had they lost again, The Rossoneri would have left Naples two points adrift of the top four following Roma’s earlier victory.

However, they are now back into third and if they can maintain this form, will surely have no trouble in booking their spot in next year’s Champions League.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – RAFAEL LEAO

There were so many great performances to choose from. Tonali was a monster in the middle of the park, while Diaz was at the heart of everything creative Milan did. But Leao was back to his best having not scored in 11 games and gets the nod.

His deft chip broke the deadlock and the Portuguese striker was instrumental in the build-up for Diaz’s second. He then halted any possible momentum Napoli were hoping to create in the second half with a stunning strike to make it 3-0. From start to finish, he was brilliant.

PLAYER RATINGS

NAPOLI: Meret (4), Di Lorenzo (4), Rrahmani (3), Kim (4), Rui (4), Zambo Anguissa (4), Lobotka (4), Zielinski (3), Politano (5), Simeone (4), Kvaratskhelia (6). SUBS: Jesus (n/a), Elmas (n/a), Lozano (4), Raspadori (4), NDombele (n/a)

AC MILAN: Maignan (8), Calabria (7), Kjaer (7), Tomori (7), Hernandez (6), Tonali (8), Bennacer (8), Diaz (8), Krunic (7), Leao (9), Giroud (6). SUBS: Rebic (6), Bakayoko (n/a), Origi (6), Saelemaekers (8), De Ketelaere (n/a)

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

17′ – WHAT A GOAL! MILAN LEAD: 1-0 This is simply lovely. Diaz does brilliantly on the right touchline and drives forward before playing a perfect ball into Leao. The striker hasn’t scored in 11 games but shows no signs of rust, chipping Meret to put Milan ahead.

25′ – GOAL! DIAZ DOUBLES MILAN’S LEAD: More brilliant play puts the visitors two ahead. Leao and Giroud work a one-two before feeding Bennacer on the left, and whips a dangerous cross into the box. It just evades Giroud but falls to Diaz, who fakes to shoot before poking it home to make it 2-0.

50′ – JUST WIDE: The second half has started how the first finished – frantically. Napoli are on the front foot but lose possession and Milan break with Leao. The Portuguese feeds Bennacer, who finds Giroud, and the Frenchman gets a shot away from a tight angle that looks destined for the net but it drifts just wide.

59′ – MILAN IN DREAMLAND – LEAO MAKES IT THREE: What. A. Goal. It’s been all Napoli this half but they’ve been stunned on the counter here. Tonali does well to steal possession and feed Leao on the left. The Portuguese striker still has it all to do but he makes it look easy, jinking past Di Lorenzo and blasting a shot past Meret from a tight angle. 3-0!

67′ – GOOOOAAL! 4-0 MILAN: What is going on here? Calabria has it on the right and plays it inside to Saelemaekers, who stares down five Napoli players before navigating his way through them and squeezing the ball under Meret. It’s a superb solo goal that puts Milan 4-0 ahead.

KEY STATS

The last time Napoli were beaten by four goals in a Serie A clash was in 2007 v Atalanta (5-1)