PRIMAVERA STUNNED IN STOPPAGE TIME AGAIN

A second late blow in the space of a few days, this time in Cercola after the draw with Verona. Once again, the Primavera were pegged back at the death and saw victory slip through their fingers. Lontani’s penalty in the second half looked set to be enough, but Caucci’s late touch secured the equaliser. It finished 1-1 away to Napoli, with plenty of regret over a win that would have been important and valuable. At the Stadio Piccolo, it was not a particularly attractive match. AC Milan were not at full strength but coped well with the absences, producing a solid hour of football and generally playing the better football before dropping off in the closing stages and allowing Napoli space.

It could have been a great opportunity to move up the table, but instead it was the third draw of December, all ending 1-1, aside from the recent and convincing 2-0 win over Parma. After Matchday 17, Renna’s side move only slightly in the standings, rising to 23 points, remaining in the pack and still within touching distance of the play-off places. The Christmas break now arrives, a chance to switch off and rest, reflect on what has been done and return with renewed determination to improve. 2026 will begin with a tough test, as the next fixture is away to league leaders Roma on Saturday 3 January at 13:00 CET.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM NAPOLI v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
A lively, open start saw Mancioppi spark the first move in the 2nd minute, with Plazzotta’s low drive from the edge of the box drifting wide. AC Milan took the initiative, although in the 12th minute Gorica went close with a glancing touch from a free kick in the box. A long spell followed with plenty of substance but almost no clear chances: in the 16th minute Lontani reacted quickly and shot, forcing Spinelli into a save, while on 31 minutes Lontani again went close with an audacious long-range lob that came to nothing. The closing stages of the half brought further chances: in the 43rd minute Lontani’s effort was weak after Plazzotta’s solo run, while a minute later Di Siena crossed and Mancioppi’s first-time volley went agonisingly close.

Napoli seemed to grow after the restart, but in the 57th minute, Tartaglia produced a clever outside-of-the-foot pass and Plazzotta did well to shield the ball before being brought down in the area by Gambardella. A penalty was awarded and Lontani stepped up, sweeping his shot across goal and into the net to give Milan the lead. Napoli pushed for a response and in the 63rd minute Longoni gathered Genovese’s effort. Milan survived a double scare: in the 73rd minute, Longoni made a vital save from Eletto’s close-range header following a corner, and two minutes later Genovese crossed for Raggioli, unmarked and well placed, whose flicked header went just wide. Hearts were in mouths in the 88th minute when Smeraldi’s free kick cleared the wall and brushed the post. In the end, however, the late blow still arrived: in the 93rd minute, Caucci collected an aerial deflection and slid home the equaliser.

MATCH DETAILS

NAPOLI 1-1 AC MILAN

NAPOLI (3-4-2-1): Spinelli; Garofalo, Genovese, Gambardella (65' Eletto); Olivieri (79' D'Angelo), Lo Scalzo (65' Borriello), Cimmaruta, Caucci; Smeraldi, Gorica (46' Raggioli); Camelio (79' Nardozi). Subs: Lattisi; De Luca; De Martino, Maida, Saviano; Anić. Coach: Rocco.

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Longoni; Di Siena, Colombo, Cullotta, Tartaglia; Pandolfi, Mancioppi, Perera; Plazzotta, Castiello, Lontani (88' Cisse). Subs: Catalano, Faccioli; Grilli, Nolli, Pagliei, Vechiu; Angelicchio, Di Maria, Dotta, V. Seedorf. Coach: Renna.

Referee: Colaninno from Nola.
Goals: 57' pen. Lontani (M), 93' Caucci (N).
Booked: 48' Perera (M), 64' Genovese (N), 70' Eletto (N), 94' Caucci (N).

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