El Shaarawy unstoppable, AC Milan peg back Napoli: 2-2

Mazzarri's side ran into a two-goal lead thanks to Inler and Insigne, then the league's top scorer ran riot and levelled matters with a brilliant brace

Napoli seemed stronger than Silvio Berlusconi's spellbinding power. So they looked at the interval with the score at 2-1, goals by Inler and Insigne tarnished by El Shaarawy's effort on the stroke of half time. Not a lucky goal, but the result of a good performance. Indeed, in the second period, with a show of pride and some decent football the Rossoneri got their equaliser: yet another goal by the Pharoah completed a deserved comeback and took his tally to 10 in Serie A. The point means the Azzurri were unable to leapfrog Inter in the standings and take advantage of Juve's draw. An important point for AC Milan, especially as it saw them get their game going again before their trip to Anderlecht and with just one week to go until the Juventus match.

One, two, Pharaoh — We knew the day before. Against AC Milan, Insigne was given his chance alongside Cavani, Mazzarri placing him behind the Uruguayan in his 3-5-1-1 formation. Allegri switched from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 and gave Boateng the nod over Emanuelson in attack. And the Ghanaian rewarded him by dictating the tempo on the wing. The Rossoneri started brightly but the hosts scored with their first foray forward, as Abbiati was duped by Inler's swerving long-range effort on four minutes. It meant the Swiss midfielder scored the goal of the day but the keeper's reactivity has to be called into question. Still, it didn't put the frighteners on the visitors; indeed, they almost equalised after ten minutes: Boateng played in Montolivo right in front of De Sanctis but the ex-Fiorentina man could only skim the outside of the keeper's right-hand post. A sign. A flicker of pride. "Keep hold of the ball," Mazzarri yelled from the touchline. AC Milan closed them down and Napoli's only option was to rampage forward on the counter. And so they doubled their lead on the half-hour mark: Maggio drilled in a cross from the right, Insigne did well to trap it and shoot on the turn, his effort bouncing between Abbiati's legs via a deflection off Acerbi. Many would call it a day and say: "Let's give up and end it here." Not AC Milan. They kept their calm and they kept playing - attractive football at times too. As seen in the build-up that led to El Shaarawy's 9th goal in the 44th minute. Nocerino started the move, De Sciglio provided the final pass and from the edge of the box the Pharaoh clipped a curling effort in below the crossbar.

HIM AGAIN — The young striker's goal injected life into AC Milan, who came out after the break and immediately had the hosts under the cosh. Allegri's side kept the ball on the ground and bossed possession as Montolivo's talent stood out. After playing a neat one-two, the midfielder supplied Bojan with the chance to make it 2-2, only for the Catalan forward to drag his angled effort wide. Then Boateng headed a fraction wide from close range. Napoli were on the back foot, but a single flash of skill from Cavani was enough to get the San Paolo on their feet again. However, the Uruguayan's delightful ball for Hamsik inside the box saw the Slovak send his attempt wide. Mazzarri sensed the danger and tried to add a bit of protection: Insigne came off, Mesto went on. Yet the Rossoneri continued to look the more impressive of the two sides, as they were closed down aggressively. It wasn't enough to get them on level terms though. So Allegri played the Pazzini card, with Montolivo making way. The coach lined up his troops in a brave but inevitable 4-2-4. A top-heavy formation that left the Partenopei with space to exploit. And so Hamsik and Cavani swept forward, only for Abbiati to deny the Matador with his feet. Robinho came on for Boateng, AC Milan couldn't get much more attacking. And they got the equaliser they richly deserved. It was that man El Shaarawy yet again (who else?) latching onto Robinho's through ball. With the score at 2-2, Allegri went for the jugular: Bojan off, Niang on. Mazzarri replaced Zuniga with Dossena and then Maggio with Vargas. A great finale but it didn't alter the scoreline: 2-2. The Pharaoh moves ahead of the Matador.