AC Milan 1-2 Napoli: Giovanni Simeone fires winner as visitors go top of Serie A

Napoli climbed to the summit of Serie A after beating AC Milan 2-1, inflicting a first defeat of the season on the reigning champions. Both sides arrived at San Siro unbeaten and level on 14 points, with Napoli one place ahead in third owing to their superior goal difference.

While Atalanta temporarily went top of the table earlier in the day thanks to a tight 1-0 win against Roma, this felt like a clash between title favourites. Ad Milan shaded the first half, going in at the break with 11 shots to three for their opponents.

They came within a whisker of opening the scoring with just over 10 minutes on the clock when Rade Krunic played a cultured reverse pass to Olivier Giroud on the edge of the box, with Giroud forcing Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret into a fingertip save which tipped the ball onto the crossbar. Champions LeagueNapoli battle past 10-man Rangers as McGregor penalty heroics in vain14/09/2022 AT 18:09 Giroud wasted several presentable opportunities, not least when he attempted an improbable scorpion kick – spooning the ball harmlessly away – after a searching cross from Charles De Ketelaere, this despite the fact that Davide Calabria was in a perfect position to score behind him.

Tonali and Krunic also went close, the latter forcing another excellent save from Meret with a header at a corner, while Theo Hernandez was dangerous as ever as he marauded forwards from left-back. Napoli had their moments, though, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia causing problems for Milan’s defence.

They started the second half well, Giacomo Raspadori almost bursting through one-on-one with a clever turn in the area. Not long afterwards, Kvaratskhelia danced into the box and went down under pressure from half-time substitute Sergino