AC Milan 1-2 Napoli: Balotelli misses penalty as visitors maintain perfect start
The Partenopei kept up their impressive start to the season at San Siro, where the Italy international scored a spectacular consolation goal
Napoli kept up their 100 per cent start to the 2013-14 season with an impressive 2-1 over AC Milan at San Siro on Sunday.
The visitors started the game brightly and were soon ahead through Miguel Britos, with Gonzalo Higuain doubling their lead just after half-time.
Both sides enjoyed winning starts to their Champions League campaigns on Wednesday, and the hosts made three changes from their 2-0 success over Celtic as Ignazio Abate, Urby Emanuelson and Andrea Poli replaced Cristian Zaccardo, Kevin Constant and Antonio Nocerino.
Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez made two alterations from Napoli's 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund, with Giandomenico Mesto and Blerim Dzemaili coming in for Christian Maggio and Gokhan Inler.
Benitez’s side flew out of the traps and carved out a host of early opportunities, with Valon Behrami and Higuain particularly threatening.
And this early pressure paid off when Britos headed home from close range after just five minutes.
The Uruguayan stole into the six-yard box and converted calmly after defensive partner Raul Albiol had knocked a deep free-kick back across goal.
Milan's top scorer Balotelli brought a good save out of Pepe Reina four minutes later as the hosts sought an immediate response, and the lively Italy international then curled a free-kick just wide shortly after.
While Massimiliano Allegri’s men continued their bright play in the second half, they quickly fell further behind thanks to Higuain's third league goal of the season after 53 minutes.
The Argentina international struck a powerful effort from outside the area and Christian Abbiati was unable to prevent the shot from finding the bottom corner, even though he got a hand to it.
Milan were handed a way back into the game a minute before the hour mark though when Albiol brought down Balotelli in the box.
However, the forward was thwarted by a superb Reina save, the Spaniard getting down well to his right as the former Manchester City and Inter man missed the first penalty of his career.
Undeterred, the ever-dangerous Balotelli threatened again 10 minutes later as he struck a powerful against the bar.
And the 23-year-old did eventually get the goal his performance deserved as he bent a glorious strike past the helpless Reina in the 91st minute, but Napoli held on to maintain their perfect start to the Serie A season.
The defeat was compounded for Milan after the final whistle when Balotelli was shown a red card, with his dismissal appearing to be for dissent.
The defeat was compounded for Milan after the final whistle when Balotelli was shown a red card, with his dismissal appearing to be for dissent.
