AC Milan cruised to a 3-0 victory over third-placed Napoli to strengthen their hold on top spot in Serie A.
Ibrahimovic, Boateng and Pato seal 3-0 success
AC Milan cruised to a 3-0 victory over third-placed Napoli to strengthen their hold on top spot in Serie A.
Napoli went into Monday's eagerly-awaited tussle at the San Siro looking to provide further evidence of their title credentials.
A victory for Walter Mazzarri's men would have taken them level with Milan at the summit of the table and there was nothing to separate the sides in a goalless first half.
However, the pivotal moment arrived four minutes into the second half when Salvatore Aronica handled in the area to concede a penalty and Zlatan Ibrahimovic stepped up to fire the Rossoneri ahead.
Napoli battled hard in an effort to get back into the game but any hopes they had of overturning the deficit were extinguished in a two-minute period as Milan struck twice more.
Former Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng made it 2-0 on 77 minutes before Alexandre Pato found the target to add gloss to the scoreline.
The result takes Milan five points clear of Inter Milan, who climbed above Napoli over the weekend by virtue of a win against Sampdoria.