Milan keep pace with leaders Inter, Napoli stunned by Spezia
AC Milan stayed in touch with the Serie A summit on Wednesday, a 4-2 win at Empoli moving them into second after Napoli's shock 1-0 home defeat to struggling Spezia.
Stefano Pioli's side stayed four points behind city rivals and league leaders Inter Milan, who were 1-0 winners over Torino, heading into the winter break thanks to Franck Kessie's first-half brace and further goals from Alessandro Florenzi and Theo Hernandez.
The win allowed Milan to reclaim second spot from Napoli after their controversial loss at the hands of Luciano Spalletti's team at the weekend and leaves the seven-time European champions as the principle pretenders to Inter's Serie A crown.
They are three points ahead of third-placed Napoli who, still afflicted by a host of absences, were sunk by a Juan Jesus own goal in the 37th minute which ended Spezia's run of six matches without a win and moves them five points away from the relegation zone.