With a 2-1 victory, AC Milan staved off a late Salernitana comeback to start 2023 on a positive note and keep pace with Serie A leaders Napoli.
Rafael Leao and Sandro Tonali's goals in the first half appeared to have been more than enough for Stefano Pioli's team to start the new year with a convincing victory.
But Federico Bonazzoli's late goal produced a tense conclusion at Stadio Arechi, where the Rossoneri barely managed to maintain composure and earn the three points.
Davide Nicola will draw encouragement from Salernitana's late comeback against the Scudetto holders after they narrowly avoided being eliminated from the league last season.
In order to help Manchester City defeat Chelsea 1-0 and close the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to five points, Riyad Mahrez came off the bench.
After being held to a stalemate on New Year's Eve by Everton, City was facing further frustration against an injury-plagued but tenacious Chelsea team at Stamford Bridge. But after an hour had passed, Jack Grealish set up Mahrez for the game-winning goal less than three minutes after they had entered as replacements, keeping Arsenal firmly in their sights.
Chelsea, who continued to lack confidence under Graham Potter but still caused City plenty of issues despite suffering a double injury blow, also suffered another defeat as a result.
Though they continued to push, adolescent substitute Carney Chukwuemeka's effort was blocked, and Havertz's rebound forced Ederson into a save. Ilkay Gundogan curled a shot wide before passing the ball to Erling Haaland as City threatened toward the end of the first half.
When the Norwegian took a touch with his right foot and prodded goalward with his left, it appeared that he was going to score, but the ball missed the net.
Chukwuemeka, however, narrowly missed scoring for Chelsea when he cut inside Kyle Walker and fired a low drive that clanged against the near post.
Walker and Joao Cancelo, the right-back duo Pep Guardiola started the game with, were swapped out for Rico Lewis and Manuel Akanji. It may not have been an offensive change, but there was a noticeable difference in the visitors' level of vigor.
Before Nathan Ake headed Kevin De Bruyne's cross against the post and crossbar, Haaland missed with another chance.
With a low shot from the edge of the area, De Bruyne next forced the previously underutilized Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into a superb stop. On the hour, Guardiola substituted Grealish and Mahrez, and the double substitution immediately paid off.
Grealish was given the ball by Haaland down the left side, and Kepa perplexingly let the England winger's low cross pass straight to the far post, where Mahrez had eluded Marc Cucurella to set up an easy goal for himself.
The Chelsea bench, in contrast to City's, appeared noticeably immature, but Potter nonetheless switched out the unsuccessful first-half replacement Aubameyang for the youngster Omari Hutchinson. Another teenage substitute, Lewis Hall, missed the crossbar with their best opportunity to tie the game in stoppage time.
The title race, which will now be put on hold for FA Cup weekend and the rematch between these two teams at the Etihad on Sunday, was therefore maintained by City's pressure on Arsenal.
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