The Rossoneri, the only leaders, now have a mattress of three points ahead of the Neapolitans pushed back to the last step of the podium after this last match of the 28th day.

But Stefano Pioli's men are only two steps ahead of their neighbors Inter, who have one game less - a meeting to be rescheduled against Bologna.

In a closed match, poor in shots, the opening at the Diego-Maradona stadium came from a badly repelled long free kick: an uninspired strike from Milan's right side Davide Calabria turned into an offering for Olivier Giroud who deflected in one step into the nets of David Ospina (49th).

The joy of AC Milan's French striker Olivier Giroud after opening the scoring against Naples, at the end of the 28th day of Serie A, on March 6, 2022 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium Tiziana FABI AFP

A goal all the more fortunate as the French world champion, before his eighth goal of the season in Serie A, had almost given up his place after the first period.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic warmed up for a long time all half-time to be ready to replace the striker of the Blues, victim of a gash above the left ankle after a late intervention from Kalidou Koulibaly (25th).

Olivier Giroud finally gave way to Ante Rebic (68th) due to a sprained other ankle.

And "Ibra", affected in recent weeks by an Achilles tendon, had to wait for the last minutes (89th) to take his first steps on the ground since January 23.

AC Milan's Swedish striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in the fight with the Senegalese defender of Naples, Kalidou Koulibaly, at the end of the 28th day of Serie A, March 6, 2022 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium Tiziana FABI AFP

The end was more animated but the Milanese held the shock and washed away the insult of the defeat in the first leg at San Siro (1-0).

This first Neapolitan defeat since mid-December in Serie A puts an end to a series of eight matches without defeat.

But the band of Lorenzo Insigne retains four more units than its first pursuer, Juventus Turin, which continued its rise on Sunday.

Morata guides Juve

Juve secured their 14th consecutive league game unbeaten, beating Spezia 1-0 at home on Sunday.

With 53 points, the Turinese are now six points ahead of Atalanta Bergamo and AS Roma, the first two teams outside the qualifying zone for the next Champions League.

Four days after their 1-0 victory in hold-up mode on the lawn of Fiorentina - the former team of new Turin striker Dusan Vlahovic - in the semi-final first leg of the Italian Cup, the Old Lady has this time could count on a goal from Alvaro Morata.

The Spaniard was impeccably served by Manuel Locatelli (1-0, 21st) for his first goal since mid-January, after a poor clearance from goalkeeper Ivan Provedel.

The joy of the Spanish striker of Juventus Turin, Alvaro Morata (c), congratulated by his teammates, after opening the score at home against Spezia, during the 28th day of Serie A, March 6, 2022 MIGUEL MEDINA AFP

Despite good chances in the second half, La Spezia coach Thiago Motta's men could never come back against the team-mates of Adrien Rabiot - two teammates in the midfield of PSG a few years ago.

© 2022 AFP