Napoli kept their fading Serie A title hopes alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AC Milan, thanks to a late strike from Matteo Politano.
The win marked Napoli’s fifth straight league triumph, their best run of the season and saw them move above Milan in the standings.
With league leaders Inter Milan still ahead, both sides knew defeat would almost certainly end any slim hopes of mounting a title challenge. That urgency, however, did little to spark an entertaining first half.
Napoli created the first real chance when Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan stayed rooted as Leonardo Spinazzola curled a shot narrowly wide of the top corner after cutting inside.
Earlier, Milan had threatened from a set-piece after Vanja Milinković-Savić misjudged a delivery, but Strahinja Pavlović could only direct his header off target.
Napoli looked sharper after the interval and continued to push forward. Giovane forced Maignan into a save, while substitute Alisson Santos added energy to the attack.
The breakthrough finally arrived late on when Politano reacted quickest to a weak defensive header from Koni De Winter and fired a low volley into the net just minutes after coming off the bench.
Milan only came alive after falling behind, but efforts from substitutes Santiago Giménez and Rafael Leão failed to rescue a point.
The victory leaves Napoli seven points behind Inter with seven matches remaining, although they no longer have a chance to face the league leaders directly.
Milan, meanwhile, suffered only their second away defeat of the campaign and missed the chance to complete a first league double over Napoli since the 2010/11 season.
