Serie A | Napoli 1-0 Milan: Politano picks new Scudetto challenger

Matteo Politano came off the bench for a late goal to give Napoli victory over Milan, sending them into second place, with Inter’s lead at the top extended to seven points.

This was a crucial crossroads in the campaign, as third hosted second to see who would emerge to challenge leaders Inter.

NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: SSC Napoli supporters during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Rasmus Hojlund was ruled out by a stomach bug, so Giovane was the makeshift centre-forward , because Romelu Lukaku was frozen out for seeking treatment in Belgium , with David Neres, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani and Antonio Vergara injured.

NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: Massimiliano Allegri AC Milan greets Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Both Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic were only fit for the bench, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek returning after six weeks out with facial fractures, and Matteo Gabbia a long-term absentee, so Max Allegri launched a new front pairing of Niclas Fullkrug and Christopher Nkunku.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli battles for possession with Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Luka Modric squirmed through a crowd to force Alessandro Buongiorno into a bookable offence, and from that free kick Strahinja Pavlovic nodded inches wide of the near post.

Leonardo Spinazzola dribbled past Youssouf Fofana to bend a finish just wide of the far top corner, with Nkunku failing to keep his finish down when sent clear down the left by Fofana.

Giovane sprinted onto a through ball and was shaping up to shoot when blocked off by Pavlovic, but he forced a big one-handed save out of Mike Maignan with a strike from outside the area after the restart.

Maignan also parried a Kevin De Bruyne effort from the by-line at the near post when sent through by Spinazzola, while Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa nodded wide from a promising position.

The breakthrough came in the final stages, as Mathias Olivera’s cross to the back post was only flicked on with a weak Koni De Winter header, finding Matteo Politano on the volley with the left foot from a tight angle to give Napoli the lead.

That magic left foot ✨ Matteo Politano gives Napoli the lead in a must win game 🔥 📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/jHkoYanuhX

Santiago Gimenez saw his header sail just over the bar from a Zachary Athekame cross, while Rafael Leao fired over when going for the same ball as Pulisic.

Politano 79 (N)

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