AC MILAN FIRE FOUR PAST NAPOLI
Serie A
The Rossoneri breezed past Napoli thanks to a stunning performance and came away with a win that was as important as it was deserved. Goals from Rafa Leão, who bagged his first against Napoli, and Brahim Díaz kicked things off in a frantic first half. Then, the Portuguese got his second of the night after the break before Saelemaekers added a fourth for the Rossoneri. AC Milan tonight inflicted the biggest defeat of the season on a team that had boasted the best defence in the league, all the while keeping a clean sheet thanks to the concentration and dedication shown by the whole group.
The biggest piece of news ahead of the game was Stefano Pioli's return to the 4-2-3-1; Ismaël Bennacer started further up the field, while Krunić was inserted into the double pivot alongside Tonali. This result at the Maradona is sure to give the Rossoneri a huge confidence boost ahead of the final stretch of the season and takes AC Milan to third in the table on 51 points. The aim now is to back this performance up with more big results, starting from our next game, at San Siro against Empoli on Friday night. After that, we meet Napoli again for the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Forza ragazzi!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM NAPOLI v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
The match at the Maradona got off to a fast start with a chance at either end in the third minute: after Simeone had failed to direct the ball on target from Di Lorenzo’s cross, Theo raced forward and pulled the ball back for Díaz, whose finish was straight at Meret. The hosts threatened again as Simone blasted over (7’), but it was AC Milan who took the lead on the 17-minute mark: Brahim displayed some wonderful skill down the right before playing in Leão, who dinked it over the outrushing Meret. It got better for the Rossoneri in the 25th minute: Bennacer’s cross made its way to Díaz, who produced a little chop to get away from Mário Rui and fired home with his left foot. Having doubled their advantage, Pioli’s men managed possession well and almost added a third through the unstoppable Brahim, whose right-footed strike from the edge of the box was tipped over by Meret (43’). In first-half stoppage time, Maignan managed to palm away a powerful left-footed attempt from Zieliński. AC Milan went into the break two to the good.
The Rossoneri had the first chance of the second half (50’): Leão launched a counter-attack and Bennacer played the ball on for Giroud, who shot just wide with a left-footed angled drive. Napoli looked to put the pressure on, with Maignan keeping out close-range efforts from Kim and Mário Rui in the space of a minute (55’ and 56’). But then came the Rossoneri’s third of the night (59’): Tonali robbed Zieliński of the ball and picked out Leão, who breezed past Rrahmani and smashed home to make it 3-0. Saelemaekers scored the Diavolo’s fourth goal in the 67th minute, displaying some brilliant footwork to manoeuvre his way through the Napoli defence before coolly beating Meret. With the Rossoneri having killed off the match, they comfortably saw it out and even threatened again on the counter through Bennacer and Saelemaekers. Raspadori had the only real effort on goal for the home side in the closing stages as it finished 4-0.
MATCH DETAILS
NAPOLI 0-4 AC MILAN
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim (81' Juan Jesus), Mário Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka (68' Elmas), Zieliński (68' Ndombele); Politano (68' Lozano), Simeone (76' Raspadori), Kvaratskhelia. Subs: Gollini, Marfella; Østigård; Demme, Gaetano, Zedadka; Zerbin. Coach: Spalletti.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjær, Tomori, Hernández; Bennacer (83' Bakayoko), Tonali; Díaz (56' Saelemaekers), Krunić (83' De Ketelaere), Leão (74' Origi); Giroud (74' Rebić). Subs: Mirante, Tătărușanu; Ballo-Touré, Florenzi, Gabbia, Thiaw; Adli, Pobega, Vranckx. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Rapuano from Rimini.
Goals: 17' Leão (M), 25' Díaz (M), 59' Leão (M), 67' Saelemaekers (M).
Booked: 35' Giroud (M), 40' Lobotka (N), 63' Krunić (M).
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