Milan
Napoli climbed to the top of Serie A with a much-needed 3-1 win over Inter Milan but were left counting the cost after playmaker Kevin De Bruyne limped off injured moments after scoring. The Belgian’s fourth league goal of the season came from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute, setting Napoli on their way to a crucial home victory that halted a worrying run of poor form.
Napoli had entered the game under pressure after losing two of their previous three league matches and suffering a humiliating 6-2 Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday. But Antonio Conte’s side responded in style at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, moving one point clear at the summit after AC Milan were held to a draw by Pisa.
“It was a fantastic evening,” said midfielder Scott McTominay, who doubled Napoli’s lead with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box in the 54th minute. “We knew we had to show a reaction after the bad night in Europe — and we did.”
Inter briefly threatened a comeback when Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty five minutes later following a handball by Alessandro Buongiorno. However, Andre-Frank Anguissa restored Napoli’s two-goal cushion in the 67th minute, sealing a deserved win.
Conte praised his side’s resilience amid an ongoing injury crisis. “Kevin picked up a hamstring issue today, but the team showed great character,” he said. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta, meanwhile, criticised the video-assisted decision that awarded Napoli’s first penalty, calling it “unjustified.”
The result leaves Inter fourth, behind Roma, while Napoli regain momentum in their title defence despite concerns over De Bruyne’s fitness.