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Milan are top of the table after a dramatic late win over Napoli that saw Christian Maggio sent off, Kaka's penalty saved and German Denis deflect Ronaldinho's effort into his own net. This was a huge top of the table showdown as one point separated the southern leaders from Carlo Ancelotti's Scudetto contenders. Not since 1990 – the year Napoli last won the title – has a game between Milan and the Partenopei meant so much. Last season there were goals galore in a 5-2 thrashing at San Siro and Napoli's San Paolo victory that ended Rossoneri hopes of finishing in the top four. The last away victory in this fixture was 2-1 on April 13, 1986, followed by eight defeats and seven draws. Marcelo Zalayeta was the only absentee for the visitors, but Milan had to do without Andrea Pirlo, Philippe Senderos, Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze and Mathieu Flamini. There was a bizarre moment four minutes in when Walter Gargano's corner kick hit the bar, but it did so because it had already gone over the byline. Marco Borriello blasted over following Manuele Blasi's error and later Borriello had two close-range shots charged down by Paolo Cannavaro. Marek Jankulovski exchanged passes with Clarence Seedorf only to have his finish charged down by defenders. From the subsequent Ronaldinho corner Massimo Ambrosini got a header, but Blasi performed a decisive goalline clearance! However, at the other end Ezequiel Lavezzi's rocket stung Christian Abbiati's palms after Blasi had intercepted a midfield Ambrosini pass. Ronaldinho was charged down in the box, then Kaka ballooned over when a lucky ricochet found him from eight yards. Dinho tried to squeeze his way through three players in the penalty area, but in the end the space just wasn't there. His free kick was also held by Gennaro Iezzo. Milan were fortunate to escape when Abbiati made a fresh-air intervention on a free kick and the referee awarded a dubious foul on the goalkeeper. Kaka tested Iezzo and also skimmed the woodwork with another snapshot. There was chaos on 41 minutes as Abbiati spilled a fierce Daniele Mannini effort from 20 metres, he also couldn't get hold of the Lavezzi follow-up which was dribbling towards an empty net before Daniele Bonera got back for a goalline clearance. Kaka was booked for bringing down Lavezzi as the Argentine went on a sensational break from Milan's corner kick, skipping past four Rossoneri shirts. Christian Maggio was also shown the yellow card for a clumsy intervention on Jankulovski and it was his second booking, so Napoli were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time. Hamsik picked up a knock to the knee in the first half and made way for Salvatore Aronica. Kaka flicked on the ball for Borriello's wayward angled drive, but there was a fantastic opportunity on 48 minutes. Ronaldinho gathered a poor clearance and his shot was on target for the far bottom corner, but Iezzo got a hand to it at full stretch. Seedorf blasted wide, but Dinho avoided a booking for his studs-up tackle on Fabiano Santacroce. The Italian international limped off and made way for Michele Pazienza. Cannavaro did well to intercept Seedorf's through ball that sent Ronaldinho clear, but Denis found a hole in the Milan defence and Lavezzi finished the move with the ball in Abbiati's arms. Milan went close as a corner fell to Gennaro Gattuso's half-volley, but ricocheted off Kaka to go wide. Alexandre Pato replaced Ambrosini for a 4-2-3-1 system in the final half-hour. The ball ping-ponged around the six-yard box as Borriello's cross for Pato and then his follow-up shot were deflected by Iezzo at point-blank range. Ronaldinho drilled wide on the counter, but the last throw of the dice was Pippo Inzaghi for Borriello to break down 10-man Napoli. A brilliant Cannavaro tackle stopped Pato's very dangerous counter-attack, but there was an incredible 10 seconds on 73 minutes in which Milan had three chances. Kaka hit the inside of the upright with an angled drive, Ronaldinho's effort was deflected and Iezzo beat away the third from Gianluca Zambrotta! San Siro thought Pato had scored when he was allowed a free diving header at the back post, but he somehow nodded it wide from a yard! It was one of the misses of the season. Kakha Kaladze made his comeback for Favalli, but Lavezzi was single-handedly keeping the Milan defence on their toes and earning free kicks. Kaka flashed another angled drive across the face of goal that skimmed the base of the upright. The referee pointed to the spot with eight minutes to go for a handling offence on Kaka's cross, but it seemed an extremely harsh decision. Pazienza was very close to the ball and it appeared to be ball-to-hand. Milan also received a soft penalty to beat Siena 2-1 in the last round and, just as then, Kaka stepped up, but this time Iezzo held up a strong hand to parry! It was a great save, but the goalkeeper was at least a metre and a half off his line. Moments later the Rossoneri were celebrating anyway, as Ronaldinho's free kick from a tight angle was accidentally nodded into his own net by Denis! The Argentine got the slightest of touches, but it was enough to strand Iezzo. Denis tried to make up for it immediately and Abbiati plucked his looping header out from under the bar. Cannavaro had penalty appeals for a tussle with Zambrotta and 10-man Napoli tried until the end to get an equaliser, but this left space at the back and Gargano blocked Kaka with a splendid tackle. On the counter Napoli went close as Pazienza prodded just past the base of the post from six yards. | 
