Serie A Roundup: Milan Goes Top As Napoli Draws Level And Inter Returns To Winning Ways

‎Serie A delivered another high-stakes, drama-filled weekend as AC Milan climbed to the top of the table, Napoli matched them on points, and Inter Milan steadied itself after a turbulent week.

‎Sportxparte breaks down the biggest talking points from a compelling weekend.

‎Milan Go Top Despite Pulisic’s Absence

‎AC Milan continued their strong domestic run with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Lazio at San Siro, a result that temporarily moved them above Roma and Napoli.

‎Still missing Christian Pulisic, who suffered a muscle strain shortly after returning from injury, the Rossoneri leaned on their depth and momentum from last weekend’s derby win over Inter.

‎Despite Lazio forcing Mike Maignan into several early stops, Milan eventually broke through in the 51st minute.

‎Rafael Leão finished off a flowing team move to give Milan the much-needed breakthrough.

‎Late drama overshadowed the closing stages when Lazio appealed for a penalty after Strahinja Pavlovic blocked Alessio Romagnoli’s volley with his arm. A lengthy VAR review followed, during which Milan’s manager, Massimiliano Allegri, was sent off after furiously tearing off his jacket in protest.

‎Ultimately, the referee ruled Pavlovic had been fouled in the buildup, cancelling the potential penalty.

‎Milan finished the day one point above Roma and three clear of Napoli ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.

‎Juventus Find Their Spark

‎Kenan Yildiz continues to emerge as Juventus’ brightest young revelation. After influencing all three goals in Juve’s dramatic midweek win over Bodø/Glimt, the 20-year-old was once again the difference-maker in a 2–1 comeback victory over Cagliari.

‎Cagliari stunned the Allianz Stadium by taking the lead through Sebastiano Esposito, but Yildiz responded instantly after linking up beautifully with Khephren Thuram.

‎His second goal, scored in first-half stoppage time, was a moment of individual brilliance: a tight control on the edge of the box, a burst past two defenders, and a crisp finish into the far corner.

‎Juventus remain seventh but look revived thanks to Yildiz’s form. Cagliari, meanwhile, sits 14th, precariously just one point above the relegation line.

‎De Rossi Gets His First Genoa Win

‎Daniele De Rossi earned his first victory as Genoa manager after two thrilling draws, guiding his side to a crucial 2–1 win over bottom-placed Hellas Verona in a tense relegation battle.

‎The result lifts Genoa a point above the drop zone, level with Cagliari and Parma. Parma lost 2–0 to Udinese after playing much of the second half with ten men, while Verona remains four points adrift of safety and sinking deeper into trouble.

‎Napoli Draw Level at the Top After Beating Roma

‎On Sunday, Napoli produced a disciplined, clinical performance to defeat title rivals Roma 1–0 at the Stadio Olimpico, joining Milan at the summit of Serie A on 28 points.

‎David Neres scored the only goal of a fiery match in the 36th minute, capping a lethal counter-attack initiated by Rasmus Hojlund.

‎Despite missing several key players, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, and Romelu Lukaku, Antonio Conte’s side showed their tactical maturity and defensive composure.

‎Roma, chasing a first league title in 24 years, struggled to create chances. Their best opportunity came in the 90th minute, but Vanja Milinkovic-Savic denied Tommaso Baldanzi’s low strike.

‎The loss marks Roma’s third defeat against a direct title rival this season, raising concerns about their big-game pedigree under pressure.

‎Inter Survive Nervy Afternoon as Lautaro Delivers

‎Inter Milan kept pace with the leading pair by defeating Pisa 2–0, though the performance did little to ease concerns after back-to-back defeats to Atletico Madrid and AC Milan

‎Lautaro Martinez was the hero once again, scoring twice in the second half. His perfectly timed first-time strike from Pio Esposito’s cross broke the deadlock, and a close-range tap-in later sealed the victory.

‎The brace brought his season tally to 10 goals in all competitions.

‎Inter were far from convincing, however Pisa, sitting in the relegation zone, created the better chances early on and pushed Inter for long stretches. Cristian Chivu’s side appears to be grinding through a difficult spell rather than playing with the authority expected from title contenders.

‎Atalanta Back on Track

‎Atalanta’s new coach, Raffaele Palladino, recorded his third league win of the season in a 2–0 victory over Fiorentina.

‎Goals from Odilon Kossounou and Ademola Lookman, either side of halftime, secured a deserved win for the Bergamo club.

‎Following a huge Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt, Atalanta looks to be gaining momentum. Fiorentina, on the other hand, remain winless and now sit six points from safety in alarming form.

‎A Title Race for the Ages

‎Serie A finds itself embroiled in one of the most competitive title races in recent memory:

‎1. AC Milan: 28 points

‎2. Napoli: 28 points (behind on goal difference)

‎3&4. Roma & Inter: 27 points

‎5. Bologna: Could reach 27 with a win on Monday