Napoli 2-2 AC Milan: Napoli roar back from 2 goals down to deny Milan in thriller

Champions Napoli came back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at home against AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday, keeping them in the top four.

Napoli winger Matteo Politano and forward Giacomo Raspadori both scored after the break to cancel out Olivier Giroud's two first-half headers in an energetic game in which both teams dominated one half.

Milan, who were defeated 1-0 at home by Juventus last weekend, are third with 22 points, three behind leaders Inter Milan and one behind second-placed Juventus. Napoli is in fourth place with 18 points.

The game got off to a fast start, with Giroud having an early chance, but his close-range shot was cleared by Napoli's defense.

The Frenchman, however, made no mistake when he broke the deadlock for Milan in the 22nd minute, nodding home from Christian Pulisic's assist.

He doubled the lead nine minutes later with another close-range header from Davide Calabria's cross.

Napoli, who had the most shots in Serie A this season with 166 before the game, looked helpless against Milan in the first half, but Politano's goal five minutes after the break sparked Rudi Garcia's side into life.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also had chances before the hour mark, but Giacomo Raspadori equalized in the 63rd minute with an unstoppable free kick.

Calabria narrowly missed the target with a header in stoppage time for Milan.

Napoli, who were missing striker Victor Osimhen due to a hamstring injury sustained while on international duty, were reduced to 10 men in the 89th minute when defender Natan received his second booking for a foul on Luka Romero.

On Saturday, Napoli will travel to bottom-placed Salernitana, while Milan will host 18th-placed Udinese later that day.

SportsLigue