AC Milan, leader in solo before the national team break

AC Milan beat 1-0 on their visit to Cagliari (17th) to regain the three-unit advantage over Napoli, which had won (2-1) at home against Udinese (14th), while Inter (3rd) did not go beyond the 1-1 draw against Fiorentina (8th) and took off six points from the fight for 'Scudetto'.

Milan faced their visit to Cagliari knowing the results of their two pursuers. The Naples' victory forced the 'Rossoneri' to win to recover the difference of three units before the national team break.

- Bennacer no falla -

Stefano Pioli's men took to the field to seek that victory, and despite accumulating chances, they failed in the definition. Frenchman Oliver Giroud missed an opportunity at the start of the match, Franck Kessié sent a shot to the pole, and a shot by Brahim Diaz went off the side of the goal. Cagliari's goalkeeper, Alessio Cragno, diverted another great opportunity from Frenchman Theo Hernández.

His compatriot Giroud was able to make up for his missed chance, offering an assist to Algerian Ismaël Bennacer, who converted with a volley to score the victory goal (59th minute, 1-0).

Milan maintained the lead despite some scares: Mike Maignan stopped a shot by Joao Pedro (76th minute), and a headed shot by Leonardo Pavoletti crashed into the pole (89th minute).

- Osimhen keeps Naples in the fight -

Napoli won a prized home win against Udinese (2-1), thanks to a double by Victor Osimhen, and remain in the fight for the title.

Despite the fact that the team led by Luciano Spalletti reached the break behind on the scoreboard (0-1) and the murmurs were circulating around the Diego Maradona stadium, Nigerian attacker Victor Osimhen cleared the doubts of his coach and his audience, with a head goal (52nd minute, 1-1) and then with a crossover shot (63rd minute, 2-1).

With this new double, a week after which he also achieved decisively in Verona against Hellas (2-1), Osimhen returned the hopes of 'Scudetto' to Naples.

“I am happy to have scored but especially for winning,” said the Nigerian attacker after the match. “We believe in the Scudetto and we want to fight until the end. The team showed strength and character.”

Napoli managed the lead well on the scoreboard until the end of the match, helped by the expulsion of Pablo Marí (82).

- “We are experiencing a decline” -

Inter (3rd) failed to make it past the draw (1-1) in San Siro against Fiorentina (8th), and continues to leave points in the championship fight, with only one victory in the last seven matches.

“We played a perfect month of November, December and the start of January, now we are experiencing a decline,” admitted Inter coach Simone Inzaghi after the match.

The visitors came forward thanks to a goal by Uruguayan Lucas Torreira at the start of the second half (50th minute, 0-1). Inter managed to tie the match quickly, with a goal scored by Denzel Dumfries (55, 1-1), but were unable to achieve a victory that would have re-engaged them in the title fight.

“The first half was insufficient, a team like ours must do more,” said Inzaghi. “We must remain calm and find the right path again, because we had accustomed our fans to something else.”

After this result, Simone Inzaghi's men maintain third position with 60 points, six behind AC Milan (1st) and three behind Naples (2nd).

bur-alu/dr