Milan's Thrilling Draw, Napoli's Top-Four Hopes Fading

The race for the Serie A title and Champions League qualification spots took another dramatic turn this weekend, as AC Milan and Napoli faced unexpected obstacles in their respective matches.

At the Mapei Stadium, Milan found themselves in a precarious situation early on, with Sassuolo racing to a 2-0 lead within the first 10 minutes. Andrea Pinamonti and Armand Laurienté stunned the Rossoneri with their quick-fire strikes, leaving the visitors reeling.

However, Milan showed their resilience and fought back, with Rafael Leão leading the charge. The Portuguese winger displayed his sublime skill, weaving past defenders before calmly slotting the ball past the Sassuolo goalkeeper, giving his team a lifeline.

The second half was a thrilling affair, with both teams trading blows. Laurienté restored Sassuolo’s two-goal cushion, but Luka Jovic’s close-range effort kept Milan in the hunt. As the clock ticked down, it seemed like Milan’s unbeaten run was in jeopardy, but substitute Noah Okafor had other ideas.

In the 84th minute, Okafor received the ball inside the box and coolly placed his shot beyond the reach of the goalkeeper, securing a hard-fought 3-3 draw for Milan. The result leaves the Rossoneri in second place, six points ahead of Juventus, but still trailing the runaway leaders Inter Milan by a significant margin.

Meanwhile, in Naples, Napoli’s hopes of securing a top-four finish and a coveted Champions League spot took a major hit as they were held to a 2-2 draw by relegation-threatened Frosinone.

Napoli started brightly, with Matteo Politano’s curler giving them the lead in the 16th minute. Victor Osimhen had a golden opportunity to double the advantage, but his effort went wide, leaving the door open for Frosinone.

The visitors capitalized on Napoli’s wastefulness, with Walid Cheddira scoring a brace to cancel out Osimhen’s second-half strike. Napoli’s frustrations boiled over late on, with Mário Rui receiving a red card deep into stoppage time for a reckless challenge.

Napoli’s coach, Francesco Calzona, lamented his team’s defensive frailties and admitted that securing a Champions League spot for next season would be a daunting task, especially with rivals like Roma and Atalanta holding games in hand.

As the Serie A season enters its final stretch, the battles for the title, top-four places, and relegation survival promise even more drama and excitement. Milan’s resilience and Napoli’s struggles serve as a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted in this fiercely competitive league.