Højlund sleepwalks, De Bruyne scores a penalty, Captain America assists and scores, 10-man Milan top Serie A with a 2-1 win over Napoli.

At 02:45 on September 29th Beijing time, the 5th round of Serie A saw a heavyweight duel with AC Milan playing at home against the reigning champions and top-ranked Napoli.

In the first half, Pulisic made a long run and crossed with his left foot to the far post, where Salemaekers tapped into an empty net to open the scoring. Then Fofana played a through ball assisting Pulisic to score, completing a goal and assist, giving Milan a 2-0 lead at halftime. In the second half, Estupiñán received a red card, and De Bruyne converted the penalty to pull one back, but Napoli struggled to score from open play.

In the end, 10-man AC Milan secured a 2-1 home victory over Napoli, achieving their fourth consecutive Serie A win and climbing to the top of the standings.

In the AC Milan vs Napoli match, Allegri set up a 3-5-2 formation with S. Jiménez partnering Pulisic as the two forwards; Salemaekers, Fofana, Modrić, Rabiot, and Estupiñán formed the five midfielders; Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlović made up the back three; Maignan was in goal. The starting lineup was valued at €263 million. Conte deployed a 4-1-4-1 formation with Højlund upfront; De Bruyne, McTominay, Anguissa, and Politano in midfield; Lobotka as the lone defensive midfielder; Gutiérrez, Juan, Marianucci, and Di Lorenzo in defense; Meret guarding the goal. Their starting lineup was worth €226 million.

This match was another classic counterattack battle; Milan had only 36% possession and took 6 shots, less than one-third of Napoli’s 19 shots. Milan managed 3 shots on target, less than half of Napoli’s 7, yet Milan triumphed 2-1. In any top-level clash, the side that concedes possession and relies on counterattacks often comes out ahead. This game also exposed Napoli’s weakness in breaking down defenses. Højlund, who underperformed during his Manchester United stint, appeared sluggish and almost sleepwalking. Meanwhile, Chelsea castoff Pulisic proved to be a lethal weapon in Serie A, contributing both a goal and an assist. De Bruyne’s penalty was not enough to save Napoli. Milan’s 2-1 win over the defending champions and leaders marked their fourth straight league victory, signaling their intent to compete for the title this season. Napoli faces the challenge of competing on two fronts, but Conte is not known for managing dual campaigns well, which may be their biggest drawback. Højlund’s ability remains mediocre.

Controlling the midfield, 40-year-old Modrić and Rabiot are top-tier players in Serie A. These two summer signings have been crucial for Milan, offering great value for money.