DEFEAT AT HOME
Serie A
A painful defeat, especially given how the match unfolded. Napoli came out victorious thanks to Elmas' goal in the fifth minute as the Partenopei draw level on 39 points with the Rossoneri and claim second place in the table. AC Milan were undeservedly beaten, in spite of a decent performance. Let's start from the end and Kessie's disallowed goal which would have secured a point: Massa's VAR review ruled for offside against Giroud, who was motionless on the ground. That's where the Rossoneri's hopes ran out following a long - but ultimately unsuccessful - siege on the opposition penalty area. There were plenty of chances and we deserved a different result. The movement wasn't as fluid as usual and there was a lack of real quality but the Rossoneri played with great spirit and desire until the final whistle. It just wasn't to be. Now, we need to shift our focus to the next away trip as we travel to Empoli on Wednesday evening. There are a lot of absences and midweek football is sure to sap the energy levels but it will be necessary for the Rossoneri to give it their all in order to finish the year on a high. We get underway at 20:45 CET at the Castellani: Forza Milan!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v NAPOLI
REPORT
It was an even opening period but Napoli took the lead through Elmas in just the fifth minute as he got to the near post to direct the corner kick past Maignan with his head. The Rossoneri were slow to react but did carve out a chance in the 17th minute; Ballo-Touré swung in a beautiful cross for Ibra, whose smart header whistled inches wide of the post. In the 24th minute, Kessie's effort didn't cause Ospina any great problems. AC Milan remained on the front foot and, in the 34th minute, Florenzi's low driven effort from 30 metres out flew just wide. Napoli got back on the front foot but Lozano's double effort was blocked first by Romagnoli and then by Tomori (42').
The Rossoneri started the second half as the better of the two teams and Ospina was immediately called into an extraordinary save to deny Ibra. In the 50th minute, Messias let fly from outside the box but his shot was no worry for Ospina. Napoli looked dangerous on the break but Tomori did excellently to deny Petagna. After a balance period, we got back on the front foot through Messias, who cut in from the left and sent his shot whistling just past the woodwork. Messias then whipped in the ball for Giroud, whose header wasn't powerful enough (73'). The final quarter of an hour was dominated by the Rossoneri, who put the guests under siege. Rrahmani saved his team in the 80th minute as he lunged to deny Ibra, who was one-on-one with Ospina. The Colombian then got off his goalline quickly to get there ahead of Zlatan moments later. The Rossoneri had a goal disallowed in the 89th minute: Kessie put the ball in the back of the net and Massa, after a VAR review, decided to chalk it off for offside against Giroud, who was pinned to the ground by a defender and not moving. It ended there.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 0-1 NAPOLI
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi (86' Kalulu), Tomori, Romagnoli, Ballo-Touré; Kessie, Tonali (77' Bennacer); Messias (78' Castillejo), Díaz (63' Giroud), Krunić (63' Saelemaekers); Ibrahimović. Subs: Mirante, Tătărușanu; Gabbia; Bakayoko; Maldini. Coach: Pioli.
NAPOLI (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Malcuit, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Di Lorenzo; Anguissa, Demme (53' Lobotka); Lozano (77' Politano), Zieliński (77' Ounas), Elmas (86' Ghoulam); Petagna (78' Mertens). Subs: Meret, Marfella; Zanoli. Coach: Spalletti.
Referee: Massa from Imperia.
Goals: 5' Elmas (N)
Booked: 33' Di Lorenzo (N), 67' Malcuit (N).
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