Inter and Napoli emerge as the frontrunners in the Serie A title race after Atalanta's latest defeat.

ROME April 1, 2025: Victor Osimhen left in September, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia departed in January.

Now, almost April, Antonio Conte’s Napoli — remarkably — are still in the hunt for the Serie A title.

Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku scored in the first half, and Alex Meret saved a second-half penalty from Santiago Gimenez as Napoli secured a 2-1 victory over AC Milan on Sunday in a key match.

Luka Jovic pulled one back for Milan in the 84th minute, making for a tense finish, but Milan couldn't equalize.

The win keeps Napoli just three points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan, who narrowly defeated Udinese 2-1 earlier.

The title race is now shaping up to be a two-team contest, as third-place Atalanta lost 1-0 to Fiorentina, falling nine points behind.

While Lukaku has stepped up in Osimhen’s absence after the Nigerian striker’s loan move to Galatasaray, it has been a collective effort to fill the gap left by Kvaratskhelia, who joined Paris Saint-Germain.

Politano, one of the players benefiting from Kvaratskhelia’s departure, capitalized on a ball from Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo to score a long-range goal just 63 seconds into the match.

Later, Billy Gilmour set up Lukaku, who found the net to double Napoli's lead in less than 20 minutes, with poor positioning from Milan’s Kyle Walker aiding the goal. This marked Lukaku’s 400th goal for club and country.

Milan remains in ninth place.

Sommer’s saves help Inter preserve victory:

Goalkeeper Yann Sommer made two crucial saves in Inter's 2-1 win.

Marko Arnautovic made the most of a rare start as center forward, opening the scoring early with a redirected cross from Federico Dimarco.

Davide Frattesi quickly doubled Inter’s lead with a similar goal.

Udinese's Oumar Solet pulled one back with a long-range shot, but Sommer made a vital save from Lorenzo Lucca to maintain the lead.

Sommer also denied Solet’s close-range effort in stoppage time, leading to heated protests from Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, who was sent off.

Inter also missed injured center back Alessandro Bastoni and striker Lautaro Martinez, who was replaced after picking up a knock with Argentina.

Inter will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Atalanta’s title hopes continue to fade:

Atalanta’s title hopes took another blow after their 2-0 loss to Inter before the international break.

Fiorentina striker Moise Kean scored his 16th goal of the season with a solo effort late in the first half.

“Atalanta’s title hopes are finished,” said coach Gian Piero Gasperini. “It was always an impossible dream that I think faded away during the Inter match.”

Also, Cagliari defeated bottom-placed Monza 3-0.