DEFEAT IN NAPLES
Serie A
The final stretch of the season has begun in poor fashion, with AC Milan losing in Naples after the international break. It finished 2-1 to the hosts at the Stadio Maradona, where goals from Politano and Lukaku meant that Jović’s late finish was a mere consolation. The Rossoneri didn’t make a good start, conceding straight away and falling further behind after 19 minutes. It was a night that quickly slipped away, with Napoli showing why they’re in the race for the Scudetto. However, our mistakes certainly didn’t help matters. The comeback wins against Lecce and Como had reignited our Champions League ambitions, but today’s defeat and results elsewhere now leave us in a very difficult position.
As has happened multiple times this season, some of the Rossoneri’s weaknesses were exposed, most notably vulnerability in defence. Coach Conceição’s side lacked sharpness and cohesion in the first half but improved after the break, only for Gimenez to see his penalty saved. After matchday 30 in Serie A, the Diavolo remain in ninth place on 47 points in the table, nine adrift of fourth and five behind the final European spot. It’s a tough situation to be in, but it must be tackled head-on. Attentions will now turn to the Coppa Italia: at 21:00 CEST on Wednesday 2 April, the Rossoneri will face Inter at home in the first leg of the semi-final tie between the sides. It provides an opportunity to bounce back, with pride, character and determination needed.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM NAPOLI v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
It was a poor start as Napoli took the lead inside two minutes: Di Lorenzo played a ball over the top and Politano capitalised on some uncertain defending from Pavlović and Hernández, firing home with his left foot. We tried to respond: in the eleventh minute, Walker pulled the ball back for Abraham, who missed the target. Napoli threatened on the quarter-hour mark, with Gabbia beating Neres to a Politano cross and, from the resulting corner, Anguissa flicking just wide. The Partenopei doubled their lead in the 19th minute as Gilmour found Lukaku, who scuffed his finish into the net. Maignan then pushed an effort from Anguissa over the bar (22’), while Neres volleyed wide ten minutes later. At the other end, with half-time approaching, Fofana fired over (via a deflection) and a Reijnders free-kick was blocked.
Napoli looked happy to contain AC Milan, who were trying to get back into the match. Leão was heavily involved, with the Portuguese man leading an unsuccessful attack in the 55th minute and then setting up Gimenez four minutes later, only for the Mexican to fire over. With 64 minutes on the clock, a low Pavlović strike was saved by Meret. In the 69th minute, we wasted a huge opportunity: Hernández was brought down in the box by Billing, but Gimenez’s penalty was saved by Meret. The Napoli goalkeeper then thwarted Pavlović in the 79th minute, but the Diavolo did pull one back with six minutes of normal time to go: Leão found Hernández, whose low cross was converted by Jović. Reijnders and Jović then both had late attempts, but both lacked precision. Full-time.
MATCH DETAILS
NAPOLI 2-1 AC MILAN
NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Gilmour, Lobotka (81' Jesus), Anguissa (65' Billing); Politano (85' Mazzocchi), Lukaku (85' Simeone), Neres (85' Ngonge). Subs: Scuffet, Turi; Esposito, Marín; Hasa; Okafor, Raspadori. Coach: Conte.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker (79' Jiménez), Gabbia, Pavlović, Hernández; Bondo (46' Leão), Fofana; Pulisic (79' Jović), Reijnders, Félix (55' Chukwueze); Abraham (55' Gimenez). Subs: Sportiello, Torriani; Florenzi, Terracciano, Thiaw, Tomori; Sottil. Coach: Conceição.
Referee: Sozza from Seregno.
Goals: 2' Politano (N), 19' Lukaku (N), 84' Jović (M).
Booked: 40' Lukaku (N), 72' Conceição (M) from the bench, 76' Conte (N) from the bench, 90' Jiménez (M).
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