AC Milan 2-1 Napoli Player Ratings: Christian Pulisic Rated 8.5/10 as Ten-Man Rossoneri Hang On For A 2-1 Victory

AC Milan stormed into an early two-goal lead, looking completely dominant in this crucial Serie A clash. It felt like the game was over before it even truly began. First half-hour was a tactical masterclass from the home side as you can see the dominance clearly in the table below.

Alexis Saelemaekers opened the scoring with a poacher's finish after just three minutes. Then, the brilliant Christian Pulisic doubled the lead, and Napoli looked shell-shocked. However, the entire dynamic of the match shifted dramatically in the second half. A moment of madness from Pervis Estupiñán resulted in a penalty and a red card, which Kevin De Bruyne coolly converted.

What stood out to us was Milan's incredible resilience. They were forced to defend with ten men for over 30 minutes. Napoli threw everything they had at them, but the Rossoneri, led by a heroic Mike Maignan in goal, held on for a massive three points. It was a nail-biting finish that had us on the edge of our seats.

Here are the AC Milan Vs Napoli Player Ratings

AC Milan Player Ratings vs Napoli

Here are AC Milan Player Ratings vs Napoli

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 8.0: He was absolutely immense for Milan. The Frenchman made six saves, several of which were crucial to keeping his team ahead, especially after the red card. He commanded his area with authority, making a good high claim and a punch. His distribution was a bit shaky, losing possession 21 times, but his shot-stopping was the reason Milan won. A true match-winning performance.

Defenders

Fikayo Tomori - 6.5: A very solid and composed display before he was forced off with an injury. He was tidy on the ball, boasting a 96% pass accuracy. Tomori made four crucial clearances and was a calm presence at the back. It was a shame to see him leave the pitch, as he was handling Napoli's attackers well.

Strahinja Pavlović - 7.0: From our perspective, this was a really mature performance from the Serbian. He won three of his four duels and was impressively accurate with his passing. He made several clearances and stood tall when the pressure was on in the second half. He never looked panicked, a very reliable showing.

Matteo Gabbia - 6.5: A no-nonsense, effective performance. He did his job without any fuss, making three clearances and a couple of important interventions. He won most of his duels and kept things simple and safe. Didn't do anything spectacular, but you don't always need to. A solid, dependable outing.

Midfielders

Pervis Estupiñán - 3.0: A night to forget. Honestly, he had a shocker. Giving away the penalty was bad enough, but the resulting red card was a disaster that put his team in a horrible position. Before that moment of madness he was having a quiet game, but his actions almost cost his team the win. He let everyone down.

Adrien Rabiot - 6.0: A typically industrious, if somewhat clumsy, performance. He worked hard, recovering the ball seven times, but he also committed three fouls and got himself a booking. He was a physical presence in the middle but lacked a bit of quality on the ball at key moments. A mixed bag, really.

Luka Modrić - 7.5: The maestro at work. He pulled the strings in midfield, especially in the first half, with 91% pass accuracy. His ten successful long balls were a joy to watch. What stood out was his game intelligence after the red card, making four interceptions and slowing the game down. His experience was invaluable.

Youssouf Fofana - 7.0: Provided the crucial assist for Pulisic's goal with a great pass. He brought a lot of energy to the midfield and was tidy in possession before being substituted. He was a key part of Milan's early dominance. A very positive contribution to the win.

Alexis Saelemaekers - 8.0: Scored the vital opening goal that set the tone for the match. He was a livewire throughout his time on the pitch, constantly running at the Napoli defense. We also noticed his defensive work rate, making three tackles. An excellent, high-energy performance capped with a goal.

Forwards

Santiago Gimenez - 6.0: It just wasn't his night. He was starved of service and struggled to get involved, with only 22 touches. He worked hard and drew a couple of fouls but was ultimately unable to make a significant impact on the game. A quiet and frustrating evening for the striker.

Christian Pulisic - 8.5: Our man of the match. In just 59 minutes he delivered a goal and an assist, effectively winning the game for Milan. He was sharp, direct, and clinical. His substitution was a tactical necessity after the red card, not a reflection of his performance. An absolutely outstanding display.

Substitutes

Davide Bartesaghi - 6.5: Thrown into the fire after the red card and did a commendable job. He was solid defensively and didn't look out of place under pressure.

Rafael Leão - 6.0: Brought on to be an outlet on the counter but barely saw the ball as Milan defended deep. Showed glimpses of his danger but was isolated.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek - N/A: Came on late to replace the injured Tomori but wasn't on long enough to receive a fair rating.

Koni De Winter - N/A: A late sub to help see out the game.

Manager

M. Allegri - 7.5: Got his tactics spot on from the start, as his team flew into a 2-0 lead. His management of the game after going down to ten men was superb. The defensive shape was solid, and his substitutions were pragmatic and necessary to secure the win. A great tactical victory under pressure.

Napoli Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Here are Napoli Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Goalkeeper

Alex Meret - 6.0: He had very little to do. He couldn't be faulted for either of the goals, which were well-taken finishes from close range. Made one save and his distribution was perfect. A strange, quiet night for a keeper who conceded twice.

Defenders

Miguel Gutiérrez - 7.0: A constant source of creativity from left-back. He created an impressive four chances for his teammates and was always looking to get forward. Defensively he was okay, but his main contribution was in attack. A very positive performance going forward.

Juan Jesus - 5.5: He really struggled in the first half against Milan's fluid attack. He lost a staggering seven duels and looked off the pace. While he was more stable in the second half when Napoli dominated possession, the damage had been done early on. A difficult evening.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 7.5: A true captain's performance. He never stopped fighting for his team and won the penalty that gave them hope. He was solid in his defensive duties and also a threat going forward, forcing a good save from Maignan. A tireless and inspiring display.

Luca Marianucci - 7.0: Incredibly composed on the ball. He completed 100 passes with 98% accuracy which is just phenomenal under pressure. He was a calm head in a frantic game, recovering the ball eight times and stepping into midfield. A very impressive and mature display.

Midfielders

Scott McTominay - 6.0: A fairly standard performance from the Scot. He was neat and tidy in possession but didn't offer much penetration. He had one shot on target but failed to impose himself on the game before being substituted.

Kevin De Bruyne - 8.0: Napoli's best player by a country mile. He was the creative hub, creating three chances and looking dangerous every time he got the ball. He dispatched his penalty with confidence and was the driving force behind their second-half push. A brilliant individual effort in a losing cause.

Matteo Politano - 7.0: He was a persistent threat on the wing. He created three chances and whipped in nine crosses, constantly trying to make something happen. His final product wasn't always perfect, but his effort and desire were clear. A dangerous opponent for the Milan defence.

Stanislav Lobotka - 7.5: A fantastic performance in the heart of midfield. He won all six of his duels and drew five fouls, completely dominating his area. He was combative, intelligent, and used the ball superbly. It was a surprise to see him substituted, as he was one of Napoli's best performers.

Frank Anguissa - 6.5: A frustrating night for the powerful midfielder. He got into great positions but his finishing was wayward, missing a big chance and taking four shots with only one on target. He was a physical force, winning six duels, but his lack of composure in front of goal proved costly.

Forwards

Rasmus Højlund - 5.0: He was a ghost. With only 16 touches all game, he was completely anonymous. The Milan defenders marshalled him easily and he offered no threat whatsoever. A very poor and disappointing showing from the striker.

Substitutes

Eljif Elmas - 6.0: Added some energy but couldn't find the killer pass or shot to make a difference.

Lorenzo Lucca - 5.5: Barely had a touch after coming on, struggled to get involved.

David Neres - 6.5: Looked lively and tested the keeper, one of the more dangerous substitutes.

Noa Lang - 6.5: Also forced a good save from Maignan and looked threatening with his dribbling.

Billy Gilmour - N/A: A very late substitute with little time to have an impact.

Manager

A. Conte - 6.0: His team started the game incredibly poorly and were punished for it. The reaction to going down 2-0 was good, and they dominated after the red card. However, his attacking changes failed to find the all-important equalizer. The slow start ultimately cost his team any chance of winning.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Christian Pulisic