Napoli moved to within three points of Serie A leaders Inter after edging past AC Milan 2-1 on Sunday in an enthralling clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. 

Inter had pulled further clear of Antonio Conte's side following their victory over Udinese earlier in the day, but Napoli ensured they kept their Scudetto hopes alive with a battling display. 

Ahead of the game, Milan confirmed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek had successful appendectomy surgery after being diagnosed with acute appendicitis, though he is expected to be on the sidelines for some time. 

Napoli, however, made a lightning start and were ahead just after a minute had been played when Matteo Politano collected Giovanni Di Lorenzo's searching pass behind the Milan defence, holding off Strahinja Pavlovic and firing the ball home inside the box. 

Romelu Lukaku then put the hosts further ahead in the 19th minute, scuffing the ball over Mike Maignan after being found by Billy Gilmour's clever pass into the area. 

Napoli were able to get into the break two goals ahead, but were met by an improved Milan in the second half, with substitute Santiago Gimenez firing just wide moments after being introduced into the action. 

And Milan were handed a lifeline in the 69th minute when Theo Hernandez was fouled inside the area by Philip Billing, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes after replacing Frank Anguissa. 

However, Gimenez's weak spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Alex Meret, who dived low to his left to thwart the Mexican's effort from 12 yards, though more drama was to come. 

With seven minutes remaining, Luka Jovic emerged from the bench to race into the area and tuck home Hernandez's teasing delivery into the six-yard box. 

A crazy ending to the game saw Milan throw everything at Napoli to try and salvage a point, but Sergio Conceicao's side were unable to find a way through late on. 

Data Debrief: Lukaku piles more misery on Milan to bring up landmark goal

Between club and country, Lukaku's strike against Milan on Sunday brought up his 400th career goal, achieving the feat against one of his favoured opponents since making his debut in Serie A. 

The Belgian has been involved in nine goals against the Rossoneri (seven goals, two assists), more than any other Serie A team he has faced across all competitions. Lukaku is also the first Napoli player to score in both top flight games against Milan in a season since Jose Callejon in 2016-17.

But the deciding moment in the contest came when Meret brilliantly saved Gimenez's penalty. The Italian goalkeeper has conceded just once from the four spot-kicks he has faced this season, with only Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (zero) yet to be beaten from 12 yards. 

For Milan, however, they have now missed four penalties in Serie A this season, the joint-most of any team in Europe's top five leagues (Freiburg also missed four).