Napoli Edge Past AC Milan to Stay in the Hunt
Napoli maintained close pressure on Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a hard-fought 2-1 win over AC Milan on Sunday.
Early Lead:
Antonio Conte’s side went ahead early as Matteo Politano’s thumping low finish gave Napoli a one-goal advantage in the opening half-hour.
Lukaku’s Milestone:
Romelu Lukaku marked his 400th career goal in the 19th minute, extending Napoli’s lead and providing a crucial cushion for the hosts.
Focused Ambitions:
With no European or Italian Cup commitments weighing them down, Napoli can concentrate solely on the league. Their next fixture at fourth-placed Bologna is the only challenge among their final eight matches that comes from the top half of the table.
Words of Optimism:
“We can only take it one game at a time,” said Politano. “We believe in ourselves, we have to try to make our fantastic fans happy and then we’ll see where we are at the end of the season.”
Inter Milan’s Nerve-Racking Victory Over Udinese
Inter Milan secured their third consecutive win, stretching their unbeaten run and keeping their title defense alive.
Early Goals:
Marko Arnautovic and Davide Frattesi opened the scoring in the first 30 minutes by sweeping home Federico Dimarco crosses in the 12th and 29th minutes, giving Inter a comfortable lead at half-time.
A Nervy Second Half:
A series of tactical changes by coach Simone Inzaghi almost cost Inter dearly when Oumar Solet halved the deficit with a powerful shot in the 71st minute. Inzaghi, who was sent off in the final minutes after losing his composure, later reflected, “We almost failed to win a match which we started really well. At a certain point we just stopped playing.”
High-Stakes Schedule:
With a titanic Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich on the horizon and crucial fixtures against Bologna and Roma, Inter face a demanding month ahead. Their performance has also effectively ended Atalanta’s slim title hopes.
Atalanta’s Slump Continues
Once title candidates following an 11-match winning streak between October and December, Atalanta have faltered in 2025.
Setback at Fiorentina:
Atalanta suffered a 1-0 defeat at Fiorentina, with Moise Kean scoring his 16th league goal on the stroke of half-time after robbing Isak Hien on the halfway line. This loss leaves Atalanta nine points behind league leaders Inter, with just eight matches remaining.
Gasperini’s Reflection:
Coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted, “We lacked the dynamism and energy to give Fiorentina any difficulty… we just have to put it behind us and look ahead.” The Bergamo outfit now trailed further in the title race.
Cagliari Strengthen Their Relegation Battle
In the fight to avoid the drop, Cagliari delivered an emphatic 3-0 thrashing of rock-bottom Monza.
Relegation Relief:
The win moves Cagliari six points clear of the relegation zone, providing them with a much-needed boost as the season’s final stretch approaches.
Keywords: Napoli, AC Milan, Matteo Politano, Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan, Marko Arnautovic, Davide Frattesi, Federico Dimarco, Simone Inzaghi, Atalanta, Moise Kean, Gian Piero Gasperini, Cagliari, Monza, Serie A, Scudetto, Champions League, title race, relegation battle.
