SSC Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Tuesday struck first-half goals to earn a 2-0 win at AC Milan and stretch their side’s lead at the top of Serie A to seven points.
Napoli have 25 points ahead of champions Inter. Milan stay eighth on 14 points.
The hosts were rocked by Lukaku’s fourth goal of the season in the fifth minute before Napoli found a second two minutes before the interval with a stunning strike from Kvaratskhelia and Milan were unable to force their way back into the game.
Photo: AFP
It was Napoli’s fifth successive league victory and Antonio Conte’s team are unbeaten in nine games since their only defeat this season on the opening day at Hellas Verona.
Milan came into the game the fresher side, after their game on Saturday at Bologna was postponed due to safety concerns over flooding, but it was Napoli who got off to a flying start.
The visitors made the early breakthrough after an Andre Anguissa pass found Lukaku between two defenders and the striker easily brushed aside Strahinja Pavlovic before taking the ball into the area and drilling a low shot into the far bottom corner.
Milan battled hard for an equalizer and in a five-minute spell they had three chances, with Yunus Musah and Emerson Royal both putting their efforts wide, while Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret got down to parry away Samuel Chukwueze’s shot from a distance.
For all their efforts, Milan found themselves a further goal down at halftime when Kvaratskhelia cut inside from the left and found space before letting fly from outside the area with a beautiful bending shot which went under the dive of Mike Maignan.
Alvaro Morata thought he had pulled one back early in the second half, rising high to send a glancing header past Meret, but the Spanish striker was offside at the time of Chukwueze’s cross.
The second half brought less chances, with Napoli content to control their lead and Milan unable to take advantage of any opportunities that did come their way.
Rafael Leao came off the bench and forced Meret into a fingertip save with a powerful strike from inside the area, but Napoli’s impressive run continues.
Having conceded three on the opening day, Napoli have since conceded just two goals, and while they have labored of late, struggling to 1-0 wins over Empoli and US Lecce, Conte’s side are getting the job done and setting the pace in Serie A.
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