Milan's Perfect Win Over Napoli Gives Title Hopes Major Boost

It has been a month of inconsistency for Milan.

Heading into Monday's crucial battle of first place versus second with Napoli, the Diavoli had won two straight against Chievo and Parma, but four draws, a total of eight dropped points, since the beginning of 2011 have kept Napoli and rivals Inter Milan in view through the rear-view mirror.

Milan are also still dealing with the 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Champions League at the San Siro last week.

On Monday, all their troubles seemed to disappear, as Milan turned on the class and dominated Napoli from start to finish, winning 3-0 at the San Siro in front of their second largest crowd (77,276, the previous second high was 53,769 against Roma) of the home campaign, in the process severely crippling the visitors' chances at lifting the Scudetto for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona.

Despite going into halftime scoreless, it was the Rossoneri who dominated the first half, controlling 65 percent of the possession and causing fits for Morgan de Sanctis and his defense throughout the first 45. It seemed only a matter of time before Milan would break through after Mark van Bommel nearly put them ahead 40 minutes in.

The breakthrough came right after halftime.

Milan were awarded a penalty by referee Gianluca Rocchi after the ball struck Salvatore Aroncia's elbow on the touch line as Alexandre Pato was trying to create something. Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted on a well-placed power shot into the lower corner as de Sanctis could not even get a fingertip to it. It was the Swede's 14th goal of the season.

From that point on, after an exuberant celebration, it seemed like Milan only got better and better, and they sealed the deal in the 77th when Pato's ball through the box found the foot of substitute Kevin-Prince Boateng, who came flying into the box and simply ran onto the ball and put it below the crossbar, making it 2-0 Milan.

As if Milan and the supporters were not riding a wave of euphoria after that, Pato scored a world-class goal past two defenders and de Sanctis in the 79th minute, putting the icing on the cake of what was Milan's single greatest performance of the season and sending Milan five points clear of Inter and six of now third-place Napoli.

"We did very well in the first half," first-year manager Massimiliano Allegri said, "but we made a lot of errors in attack. I liked our character though, I’m happy with what the lads did, seeing as the boys played in Napoli’s half for 90 minutes.

"I’m happy with the win but also because my injured players are coming back to full fitness. Some important elements are returning."

A secondary storyline for Milan is surely the play of 21-year-old Alexandre Pato. The young superstar, always the subject of interest from clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid, had arguably, like the club in general, his greatest performance of 2010-11, assisting Boateng's goal and capping the victory with an incredibly well-placed, world-class goal from about 20 yards away, which sent the dagger through Napoli's heart.

"We have taken a great victory," Pato said. "We have taken three very important points. We played a great second half and we got the win we wanted.

"I really enjoy playing in this team that is full of great champions. For me, they are not only teammates but brothers."

That said, the Brazilian is not ready to pack it in just yet and is happy with one of the most important things that came out this game: unity.

"There are still many games left to play so there is still a long way to go for the Scudetto," he said. "The important thing is that we are a united side."

Pato has certainly been impressing, particularly this year. As always, many of the elite clubs want to lure him from the San Siro, but Milan newcomer Antonio Cassano has also praised the great play of Pato, giving him probably the highest compliment of all.

"Pato is the strongest of all, I told him this,'' he told Il Corriere dello Sport. "Only one player is greater than him, [Lionel] Messi. Both would complement each other and it would be exceptional to see them in the same team."

The road will be challenging for Milan, who are still dealing with several injuries. The club will square off in a rematch with Juventus on Saturday night at the Olimpico Grande Torino before heading to London for the second leg of their Champions League fixture with Tottenham at White Hart Lane. They will be looking to avenge home losses to both. Juventus (41 points, seventh place) defeated Milan 2-1 at the San Siro on October 30th.

After this win, Milan should be brewing with confidence, and revenge in both games should be a very high possibility, as should Milan's chances of winning the Serie A this season for the first time since 2003-2004.