Milan 2-1 Napoli: Pulisic scores and assists to seal 3pts for 10-man Rossoneri

AC Milan moved top of Serie A following a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Napoli, who dropped their first points of the season.

Match Report

First-half goals from Alexis Saelemaekers and Christian Pulisic at San Siro proved enough for the 10-man Rossoneri, as they displaced their opponents at the summit via their head-to-head record.

Just three minutes had elapsed when Pulisic glided away from a couple of challenges down the left flank, before playing the ball across the face of goal for Saelemaekers to apply the finishing touch at the far post.

Mike Maignan then came to Milan's rescue at the other end with sharp reflex saves to deny Miguel Gutierrez and Scott McTominay, before the hosts doubled their lead in the 31st minute.

Youssouf Fofana cushioned Strahinja Pavlovic's square pass into the path of Pulisic, whose deflected strike beat Alex Meret.

Napoli were handed a reprieve on the hour mark, though. Giovanni Di Lorenzo was hauled down by Pervis Estupinan, who was sent off following a VAR review, and Kevin De Bruyne calmly slotted home from the penalty spot.

The reigning Scudetto holders desperately looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage and find the equaliser.

Di Lorenzo headed over and substitute David Neres' deflected effort from distance clipped the outside of the post, but Massimiliano Allegri's side held out to go top of the table.

Data Debrief: Pulisic pulls clear as De Bruyne matches Klose

Milan broke through after just two minutes and 23 seconds, with what was their fastest goal against Napoli since Filippo Inzaghi's struck after exactly two minutes in their October 2009 clash.

After assisting the first goal, Pulisic scored the second to take his tally of direct goal involvements in Serie A to 46 (27 goals, 19 assists), more than any other player in the last three seasons.

De Bruyne gave Napoli hope as he became the first midfielder since 2000 to score in each of his first three Serie A away games.

The former Manchester City maestro is also only the fourth player overall to achieve the feat, after Mauro Zarate (2008), Miroslav Klose (2011) and Krzysztof Piatek (2018).

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

3' GOAL! Milan 1-0 Napoli (Alexis Saelemaekers)

11' Match Event for Milan vs Napoli

12' Highlight from Milan vs Napoli

23' Highlight from Milan vs Napoli

27' Match Event for Milan vs Napoli

31' GOAL! Milan 2-0 Napoli (Christian Pulisic)

37' Match Event for Milan vs Napoli

57' Red Card! Pervis Estupiñán sent off

59' Penalty Goal! Milan 2-1 Napoli

69' Match Event for Milan vs Napoli

75' Highlight from Milan vs Napoli

Line-ups

Milan XI: Modric, Maignan, Rabiot, Tomori, Pervis Estupiñán, Pulisic, Gabbia, Santiago Gimenez, Alexis Saelemaekers, Youssouf Fofana, S. Pavlovic

Subs: Pietro Terracciano, Loftus-Cheek, Nkunku, Leao, Samuele Ricci, Koni De Winter, D. Odogu, Davide Bartesaghi, Zachary Athekame, Matteo Pittarella

Napoli XI: De Bruyne, Juan, Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, Politano, Meret, Anguissa, McTominay, Miguel Gutiérrez, Højlund, Luca Marianucci

Subs: Vanja Milinković-Savić, Pasquale Mazzocchi, Elmas, Neres, Lang, Sam Beukema, Lorenzo Lucca, Gilmour, Giuseppe Ambrosino, Antonio Vergara, Mathias Ferrante