Napoli continued to set the pace in the race for the Scudetto with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Milan.

Scorers: Lukaku 5′, Kvaratskhelia 43′

Gli Azzurri was up and running on the night in just the fifth minute through Romelu Lukaku after bullying his way past Serbian centre-back Strahinja Pavlović to tuck away past Mike Maignan.

Despite Napoli’s early advantage, Milan went on the offensive with one penetrative attacking sequence after another.

The home side looked good value to level matters at one-all in the opening 45 minutes but could not convert their chances, particularly through Noah Okafor, Yunus Musah, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Partenopei would have other ideas, however, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubling Napoli’s advantage just before half-time thanks to a sweetly struck effort from just outside the box; his first-ever goal against Milan.

Milan thought they roared back to life less than two minutes after the restart with a close-range header from Álvaro Morata who rose highest to meet the in-swinging cross from Samuel Chukwueze, but VAR would pull the goal back for offside.

Second-half substitute Christian Pulisic, who was not included in the XI due to illness, failed to convert a guilt-edge chance in the final five minutes of action.

Chukwueze had so nearly turned provider once again after freeing himself down the right flank to square to the former Chelsea midfielder, but the United States international could only balloon his effort over the bar from inside the box.

Napoli now sits on 25 points with a home tie against Atalanta at the weekend to come, while Milan remains in eighth and are set to travel to Monza on Saturday.