Napoli 1-0 AC Milan Player Ratings: Politano's Late Strike Seals Victory for Hosts

Napoli secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over AC Milan in a tense Serie A clash that was decided by a single moment of quality. For much of the game, it felt like a stalemate was inevitable, with both sides showing strong defensive organization and limiting clear opportunities.

The first half was a cagey affair, with neither team able to create meaningful chances despite some promising build-up play. Headers from Strahinja Pavlović and Alessandro Buongiorno failed to trouble the goalkeepers, as both defenses remained compact and disciplined.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 79th minute, and it came from an inspired substitution. Matteo Politano made an immediate impact, producing a brilliant strike from a tight angle to give Napoli the decisive lead.

AC Milan pushed late in search of an equaliser but struggled to break down Napoli’s resolute defense. In the end, it was a game decided by fine margins, with Napoli’s moment of brilliance proving enough to secure all three points.

Check out the Napoli vs AC Milan Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Tight, defensive battle throughout: SSC Napoli and AC Milan canceled each other out for most of the game with strong defensive organization.
• The substitute produced a moment of brilliance with a late winner to break the deadlock.
• AC Milan pushed late, but Napoli’s disciplined defense ensured they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

AC Milan Player Ratings vs Napoli

Let's take a look at the AC Milan player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 6.5: The captain made a superb save to deny Frank Anguissa late in the game. He was decisive and commanded his box well. From our view, he had absolutely no chance with Politano's perfectly placed winner. A solid performance despite the loss.

Defenders

Koni De Winter - 6.5: A steady and reliable outing. His pass accuracy was impressive, showing great composure on the ball. He handled his defensive duties without much fuss and won a good portion of his duels before being substituted.

Fikayo Tomori - 7.0: What stood out to us was his near-perfect passing. Tomori was a rock at the back, making crucial interceptions and clearances. He read the game intelligently and was Milan's best defender on the day. A very composed performance.

Strahinja Pavlović - 5.5: A frustrating evening for the defender. He missed a glaring opportunity with a header in the first half that could have changed the game. Defensively, he was a bit shaky and looked uncomfortable at times. Not his best showing.

Midfielders

Adrien Rabiot - 5.0: We were quite disappointed with his performance. Rabiot lost possession far too often and an error from him led directly to a Napoli shot. He seemed off the pace and struggled to impose himself on the game. A day to forget for the Frenchman.

Luka Modrić - 6.5: Tried to be the creative spark in midfield. He was neat and tidy in possession and looked to get Milan moving forward. However, he couldn't find that killer pass to unlock a stubborn Napoli defense. A decent effort but lacked the final product.

Youssouf Fofana - 6.0: A mixed bag. He tested the keeper with a shot and created a chance. On the other hand, his high rate of possession loss put his team under unnecessary pressure. He showed flashes of quality but lacked consistency throughout.

Davide Bartesaghi - 6.0: Created a big chance which was a highlight of his game. He worked hard up and down the flank. However, from our perspective he was defensively vulnerable at times. An energetic but ultimately average performance.

Alexis Saelemaekers - 5.5: Put in a shift defensively but was anonymous going forward. He provided very little attacking threat and it wasn't a surprise to see him substituted. We expected more from him in the final third.

Forwards

Niclas Füllkrug - 5.0: Completely isolated and starved of service. The game largely passed him by. He won a couple of aerial duels but had minimal touches and offered no real threat before being hooked after the hour mark.

Christopher Nkunku - 5.5: He had a decent chance in the first half that he should have done better with. He tried to get involved but was well-marshalled by the Napoli backline. A quiet game for a player of his quality.

Substitutes

Zachary Athekame - 6.0: Replaced Alexis Saelemaekers and had a speculative shot from distance but offered little else.

Santiago Giménez - 5.5: Came on for Niclas Füllkrug but suffered the same fate, receiving almost no service.

Christian Pulisic - N/A: Introduced late in the game with not enough time to make an impact.

Manager

M. Allegri - 5.5: His team was organized defensively but looked toothless in attack. The game plan seemed to be to contain and hope for a moment, but it never came. His substitutions failed to change the flow of the game, leading to a frustrating defeat.

Napoli Player Ratings vs AC Milan

Here's a look at the Napoli Player Ratings

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 7.0: Made a key save in the first half to keep the scores level. He wasn't overly tested for the rest of the match, but what he had to do, he did well. A confidence-boosting clean sheet for the keeper.

Defenders

Alessandro Buongiorno - 6.0: An eventful night. He picked up a deserved yellow card for a cynical foul and missed a sitter from a corner. He was a physical presence but his recklessness and wastefulness cost him a higher rating.

Juan Jesus - 7.5: A commanding performance. From our perspective, he was incredibly composed, with excellent passing out from the back. He won his duels and gave the Milan forwards very little to work with. A very strong display.

Mathías Olivera - 7.5: An outstanding all-round performance. He was a machine down the left flank, contributing heavily in both defense and attack. His eight ball recoveries show his defensive work rate, and he was always an option going forward.

Midfielders

Miguel Gutiérrez - 6.5: Kept the ball moving with a high pass completion rate. He played it safe for much of the game, though. A solid if unspectacular performance, doing the simple things well without taking too many risks.

Leonardo Spinazzola - 7.0: A constant menace before his substitution. He was always looking to take on his man and create something. His energy and directness were a problem for Milan's right side. It was a shame to see him go off.

Stanislav Lobotka - 8.5: The best player on the pitch for us. He absolutely ran the show from the base of midfield. His passing was almost flawless, and he dictated the tempo of the entire game. A true masterclass in midfield control and our man of the match.

Frank Anguissa - 7.0: A powerful, driving force in the midfield. He was unlucky not to score, forcing a great save from Mike Maignan. His physical presence was crucial in winning the midfield battle.

Forwards

Kevin De Bruyne - 7.5: Quality shone through every time he got on the ball. He created two good chances and his delivery was a constant threat. He couldn't find the goal or assist but was at the heart of Napoli's best attacking moves.

Scott McTominay - 6.0: Worked hard and made some good runs, but missed a decent chance before halftime. He battled hard but struggled to make a telling impact in the final third. A tireless but frustrating evening.

Giovane - 5.5: His performance was undermined by being caught offside four times. That lack of awareness killed several promising attacks. He looked lively but needs to improve his timing and decision-making.

Substitutes

Alisson Santos - N/A: Replaced the wasteful Giovane but didn't have much time to get involved.

Matteo Politano - 8.0: The game-changer. Came off the bench and won the match with a sensational goal. His introduction provided the cutting edge Napoli had been missing all game. A perfect substitution.

Manager

A. Conte - 8.0: His team was disciplined and patient, sticking to the game plan. His decision to bring on Politano was a stroke of genius that directly won his team the three points. He outmaneuvered his counterpart tactically.

Man of the Match

Stanislav Lobotka was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Adrien Rabiot was the worst performer.