AC Milan moved top of Serie A as Massimiliano Allegri’s side hung on with 10 men to beat champions Napoli 2-1 at San Siro.

Allegri’s second stint in charge has started superbly, and they went into the meeting with Antonio Conte’s side having claimed three wins from their first four games.

They needed only three minutes to stun the champions on Sunday, Alexis Saelemaekers’ tap-in putting them in front, before Christian Pulisic rounded off a well-worked move just after the half-hour mark.

Milan had to endure a nervous second half after Pervis Estupinian was sent off and Kevin De Bruyne halved the deficit from the penalty spot, but the Rossoneri held on to leapfrog Napoli into top spot.

AC Milan v Napoli

Milan stunned Napoli with a lightning fast start and took the lead as Pulisic broke free down the left before squaring to the far post for the onrushing Saelemaekers, who could make no mistake from point-blank range.

Napoli responded well and Kevin De Bruyne forced a superb save from Mike Maignan, but Youssouf Fofana wasted a great chance to double Milan’s advantage at the other end when he blazed over after a rapid Milan counter.

Pulisic spared his team-mate’s blushes, however, the American teed up by Fofana and seeing his effort deflected home after great work from Strahinja Pavlovic.

Scott McTominay saw a penalty appeal waved away following a VAR check and Napoli’s frustrations were heightened when Frank Anguissa fired over with the goal at his mercy just before half-time.

But Napoli were handed a route back into the game when Estupinian pulled back Giovanni Di Lorenzo, the referee pointing to the penalty spot and then sending off Estupinian after a long VAR review.

De Bruyne confidently converted from 12 yards, but Napoli struggled to make the extra man count with Di Lorenzo’s header that flew narrowly over the crossbar the closest they came to levelling an absorbing contest until David Neres struck the post with a deflected effort in stoppage time.

Milan’s rearguard stood firm, giving Allegri’s side a win that will increase belief his side can seriously challenge to dethrone Napoli and claim the Scudetto.