Napoli 2-0 AC Milan: Neres and Hojlund send Conte's men into Supercoppa final

Napoli booked their place in the Supercoppa Italiana final after goals in either half from David Neres and Rasmus Hojlund sealed a 2-0 win over AC Milan. 

The current Serie A champions will face the winner of the other semi-final between Bologna and Inter on Friday, with the showpiece match taking place on December 22. 

Mike Maignan almost gifted Napoli an early goal when he spilled Matteo Politano's inviting corner, but on the rebound, Eljif Elmas could only steer his effort wide of the mark. 

Napoli continued to push as Scott McTominay's shot from distance whistled past the right-hand post before Adrien Rabiot headed narrowly over the crossbar at the other end. 

But six minutes before the break, Napoli got themselves in front as Maignan could only get a fingertip to Hojlund's cross, allowing Neres to tap home from inside the six-yard box. 

Antonio Conte's team almost doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time, but Hojlund's near-post strike following a fast break was brilliantly repelled by Milan captain Maignan.

Napoli were quickest out the blocks following the interval, with Maignan again on hand to keep their lead at just one, this time saving Amir Rrahmani's attempt from distance. 

However, the Partenopei would get the goal their performance deserved in the 63rd minute when Hojlund spun past Koni De Winter before unleashing a stunning finish that struck the base of the right post on its way in. 

Hojlund came close to adding his second soon after from a similar position but fired just wide of the far post, while McTominay should have put the game beyond doubt three minutes from time, but he wildly lashed over the crossbar from the edge of the box. 

Data Debrief: Hojlund shines with Lukaku watching on

After four months on the sidelines with a thigh injury, Romelu Lukaku was named on the Napoli bench at Al-Awwal Park on Thursday, but it was Napoli's on-loan striker Hojlund that impressed here. 

The Dane netted his seventh goal in what was his 18th appearance in all competitions for Napoli, while he also ended the contest with team-high totals for shots (three), touches in the opposition box (nine), chances created (two) and duels competed in (nine). 

But Napoli were sent on their way by Neres' finish in the 39th minute. Indeed, the only other Brazilian to score in the Supercoppa Italiana for Napoli was Careca, who netted a brace against Juventus in 1990. He is also the first player from Brazil to score against Milan in the competition. 

Conte will be pleased with the authority his team showed in the match and the efficiency they went about their business. They ended the game with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.4 from their 11 attempts to Milan's 1.28 from 14 shots, only three of which were on target.