Napoli sent a statement to the rest of Serie A by beating reigning champions AC Milan at the San Siro on Sunday night.
Giovanni Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, bagged the winner as Napoli ran out 2-1 winners on the night.
On a weekend where both Inter Milan and Juventus lost, the result is bound to get Clubs with title ambitions to sit up and take note of Napoli as Luciano Spalletti’s men have distinguished themselves as title favourites.
Sunday’s match was a close affair, with Milan edging possession by 51% to Napoli’s 49%. The Rossoneri also made just two more passes than Napoli.
However, Milan did create more goal-scoring opportunities, albeit not of the highest quality, seen by just 5 of their 22 shots being on target.
Napoli’s defence managed to hold out, in no small part to new signing Kim Min-Jae. The Japanese International once again proving why he’s in the debate for bargain signing of the summer after his switch from Fenerbahçe.
The second half is where the game really came to life after going into the interval goalless. Matteo Politano, from the penalty spot, and Gio Simeone scored either side of an Olivier Giroud equalizer. Rafael Leao’s absence from Sunday’s fixture is bound to have played a role in Milan’s lack of potency in front of goal.
Both clubs went into the fixture unbeaten, sitting level on points after six games. Unfortunately for Milan, it was their record that had to fall, as predicted.
Napoli head into the international break sitting at the summit of the Serie A standings, with a game against Torino scheduled next at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Milan, on the other hand, will be aiming to bounce back from their first defeat of the season as they face a trip to Empoli after the international commitments.