Hojlund strike sends Napoli past Milan into Supercoppa final
Napoli booked their place in the Italian Supercoppa final with a controlled 2-0 victory over AC Milan in Riyadh, as Rasmus Hojlund capped an assured performance with a decisive second goal.
After a turbulent run that included back-to-back defeats before the tournament, the Serie A champions delivered a timely response. David Neres opened the scoring late in the first half before Hojlund finished the job shortly after the break to end Milan’s defense of the trophy.
Both sides arrived in Saudi Arabia searching for stability. Milan’s recent form had wobbled following dropped league points and a Coppa Italia exit, while Napoli were eager to restore confidence after unexpected losses earlier in the month. With Romelu Lukaku only fit enough for a place on the bench, Hojlund was again trusted to lead the line.
Milan started with more urgency and nearly struck early when Ruben Loftus-Cheek found space in the box, only to waste the opportunity. Napoli grew into the contest through midfield control, with Scott McTominay and Matteo Politano gradually tilting possession their way.
The opening goal arrived six minutes before the interval. Moments after Christopher Nkunku fired over at one end, Napoli broke quickly. Hojlund’s sharp turn and low effort was pushed away by Mike Maignan, but only into the path of Neres, who reacted first to slide the ball into the net.
Napoli nearly doubled their advantage before the break as Maignan was forced into another save from Hojlund, while a brief VAR check on the goalkeeper’s challenge on Politano brought no further drama.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Napoli composed and Milan increasingly frustrated. That control was rewarded in 63 minutes when Hojlund struck from a tight angle, beating Maignan with a powerful finish to make it 2-0 and effectively settle the contest.
Tempers flared as Milan struggled to respond, with McTominay and Fikayo Tomori both booked after a confrontation. A late Napoli counter almost produced a third, but McTominay dragged his effort wide.
The final whistle confirmed Napoli’s passage into Monday’s final, where Inter Milan or Bologna awaits. After recent setbacks, this performance offered a clear reminder of their quality and gave fresh momentum to their Supercoppa campaign.