In a remarkable performance on Sunday, AC Milan destroyed Serie A leaders Napoli 4-0, putting an end to their opponents’ bid for the first league triumph in more than three decades.

In the battle of the wing wizards, Rafael Leao outperformed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with a masterful brace, and Brahim Diaz and Alexis Saelemaekers scored the other goals for the rabid defending champions, who move up to third.

The biggest Serie A victory for Stefano Pioli’s team also marked Napoli’s third league loss, cutting their enormous lead at the top of the standings to 16 points after second-place Lazio defeated Monza 2-0 earlier on Sunday.

Milan is 20 points behind the leaders after a challenging 2023, but they have taken the lead in three games versus Napoli, which will finish this month with the Champions League quarterfinal between the two Italian sides.

Leao remarked after scoring his first goals since mid-January, “It’s a fantastic feeling, but even if I hadn’t scored tonight, we still played really well.”

Even though Milan defeated Napoli, who were missing their ace scorer Victor Osimhen due to injury, Milan increased their chances of making through to the next round of Europe’s premier club competition.

Nonetheless, Milan only leads Inter Milan and Roma by a single goal differential after their respective 3-0 victories over Sampdoria.

“It’s only the first step… we have another 10 matches left in the league in which we need to have the same attitude,” Pioli told DAZN.

We cannot continue to blow opportunities the way we have in the past. The victory makes me pleased, but it only covers one game.

“We need to participate in the Champions League next season for this to be a good season,” the coach said.

Diaz was instrumental in Milan’s quick start, and it was his lovely pass that got past Leao and set up the Portugal winger’s goal for the visitors in the 17th minute.

Eight minutes later, another fantastic play from Diaz, who received a cross from Ismael Bennacer, cut inside Mario Rui, and then slammed in from close range, stunned the home crowd into almost complete quiet.

Leao scored again just before the hour mark, demonstrating why he is so crucial to his team by racing past Amir Rrahmani and slamming a powerful finish into the top corner. Napoli struggled to get anything out of a well-drilled Milan.

Saelemaekers capitalized on more shoddy defence as Napoli was in disarray by dribbling through feeble challenges and nutmegging goalkeeper Alex Meret to complete the ideal night for the seven-time European champions.