Milan defeat Napoli in scrappy encounter

Robinho opened the scoring for the visitors midway through the first half before Napoli's Michele Pazienza was handed his marching orders on the stroke of half-time after picking up a second yellow card.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubled Milan's lead in the 71st minute before Ezequiel Lavezzi reduced the arrears seven minutes later.

However, the Rossoneri held on for their fourth-straight league victory.

The result leaves Milan two points behind league leaders Lazio and two points clear of defending champions Inter, who were held to a 1-1 draw against Sampdoria on Sunday.

Milan went into the game on the back of last week's 2-0 Champions League defeat at Real Madrid.

The Rossoneri had a lively start and Robinho was first to test Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis with a left-footed strike from outside the area which the keeper saved.

Midway through the first half, Robinho put the visitors in front.

The Brazilian played a one-two with Massimo Oddo before firing past De Sanctis from the centre of the area.

Napoli replied with Edison Cavani's shot from the six-yard box going just wide before Lavezzi's cross found Marek Hamsik and his effort went over the bar.

But their cause was dealt a major blow when Pazienza was given his second yellow card after a foolish handball.

On the stroke of half-time Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati made a great save, palming Lavezzi's powerful header over the bar.

Napoli kept the pressure on after the restart and should have restored parity when Lavezzi got on the end of Andrea Dossena's cross but he struck the ball wide of the target.

On the hour mark Abbiati did well to save Hamsik's right-footed strike from seven yards but, just when Napoli looked at their most dangerous, Milan doubled their lead.

Oddo provided the cross from the right and Ibrahimovic headed past De Sanctis.

Napoli continued to push forward and were rewarded when Lavezzi struck from the right side of the six-yard box to beat Abbiati.

With seven minutes remaining, Walter Gargano missed a great chance to pull his team level by firing wide.

Milan almost grabbed a third but De Sanctis did well to deny Robinho and substitute Mathieu Flamini in the dying seconds of the game.

Source: espnsoccernet.com