AC Milan vs Napoli Review
Napoli extended their lead at the top of Serie A by seven points with a decisive 2-0 win over AC Milan. With more than a quarter of the season completed, the Partenopei are now just one point shy of their position after 10 matches in their title-winning 2022/23 season. After a week without a game due to the postponement of their match against Bologna, it was anticipated that Milan would start strong.
However, it was Napoli who quickly took control. Just five minutes into the match, Romelu Lukaku showcased his strength by pushing past Strahinja Pavlović and calmly finishing past Mike Maignan. This was a concerning sign for the home team, as Napoli had not lost any of their last 50 matches after taking the lead. Despite this, Yunus Musah shot wide, and Samuel Chukwueze forced a great save from Alex Meret from 30 yards as Paulo Fonseca’s team looked to find a way back into the match.
Napoli played defensively for much of the first half but started to pose a threat for a second goal just before halftime. It was a moment of brilliance from Georgian player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia that extended their lead. Although it seemed like there was little opportunity when he received the ball on the left wing, he cut inside and fired an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
The home fans were hoping for a response after a lackluster first half, and they almost got it just a minute into the second half when Álvaro Morata headed in a cross from Chukwueze. However, VAR disallowed the goal due to Morata being slightly offside at the time of the cross. This was as close as the San Siro crowd would come to witnessing a comeback, as Napoli’s midfield took control of the game and maintained possession.
This was the ideal match that Antonio Conte would have hoped for from his team, as their effectiveness in scoring was complemented by a strong defensive display. His team achieved their third straight clean sheet away from home, with Meret making a fantastic save to deflect a powerful shot from Rafael Leão in the final moments of the match. Despite being their first loss at home in eight games, it was a sobering defeat for the Rossoneri, who continue to sit outside the European qualification spots in the Serie A standings.