Napoli edge AC Milan 1–0 to boost Serie A title race

KATHMANDU: In a tightly contested Serie A clash, Napoli secured a crucial 1–0 victory over AC Milan at the iconic Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The decisive moment came late in the match when substitute Matteo Politano made an immediate impact.

Entering from the bench, he found the net in the 79th minute, calmly finishing a well-crafted move to hand Napoli all three points.

The first half saw both sides create promising chances but fail to break the deadlock. Milan came close through Youssouf Fofana, whose effort was brilliantly denied by Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić. At the other end, Scott McTominay was unable to capitalize on an opportunity for the hosts.

After the break, the tempo of the game increased. Napoli threatened again when Giovanni Simeone unleashed a powerful strike, only to be thwarted by an excellent save from Milan’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

The breakthrough eventually arrived when a slick attacking sequence unfolded. Alisson Santos delivered a precise pass that was turned into a dangerous cross by Mathías Olivera, allowing Politano to convert with ease.

Milan pushed hard for an equalizer in the closing stages, with Santiago Giménez coming agonizingly close, but Napoli’s defense held firm.

With this victory, Napoli climb to second place in the league standings with 65 points, narrowing the gap to leaders Inter Milan to seven points. Meanwhile, Milan remain third with 63 points, a result that significantly dents their title ambitions.