Naples, April 3 (BNA): Milan striker Rafael Leao scored two goals to give his team an impressive 4-0 away victory over leaders Napoli in Serie A on Sunday, to lift coach Stefano Pioli’s team to third place in the standings.
Milan has 51 points, one ahead of fourth-placed Inter Milan and four points behind second-placed Lazio. Napoli are 20 points clear of the lead.
The match was the first of three confrontations between the clubs. Later this month, they will also play against each other in the Champions League quarter-finals, according to Reuters.
The guests took the lead in the 17th minute when Ibrahim Diaz sent a through ball to Liao, who touched it and elegantly shot it over Napoli goalkeeper Alex Merritt.
Napoli, which is seeking the Serie A title for the first time since 1989-90, after being runners-up four times since 2013, was without injured Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen and rarely threatened to reduce the gap.
Diaz doubled the lead eight minutes later when he received a cross inside the penalty area, throwing in a dummy that left Napoli defender Mario Rui stranded and sending the ball into the net deflected.
Milan effectively ended the match 14 minutes into the second half when Leao ran into the penalty area, past three Napoli defenders and slotted his shot into the net.
Alexis Saelemaekers netted the fourth goal after 67 minutes with a solo effort that steered past four defenders before slipping the ball through Merritt’s legs.
It was the first time in over 22 years that Napoli had lost a Serie A match at home by four goals or more.
WWA