A display of maturity: Milan showed that they can be a serious Scudetto contender on Sunday night as they forced their way past Napoli at the San Paolo Stadium to maintain their solitary lead in the Serie A table – two points ahead of surprise package Sassuolo.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic paved the way for the Rossoneri‘s 6th win out of 8 games as he sealed a brace to bring his seasonal tally to 10 goals – answering to Cristiano Ronaldo who had performed the same feat last night. The Clash of Titans continues.
Napoli managed to reduce the gap with Dries Mertens but Tiemoué Bakayoko’s expulsion a few minutes later crippled the Partenopei‘s chances and Jens Petter Hauge set the score at 1-3 for Milan during added time. For the Rossoneri, the only bad piece of news was a muscular injury occurred to their Swedish totem as Ibra left the pitch limping after setting the game on fire.
The international break took a heavy toll on Napoli as Gennaro Gattuso couldn’t count on David Ospina and Victor Osimhen. With Alex Meret replacing the Colombian international between the sticks, the Nigerian striker’s absence was expected to prompt his coach to opt for a 4-3-3 lineup. But Gattuso rather remained faithful to his 4-2-3-1 module, with Dries Mertens deployed as lone striker and Hirving Lozano, Matteo Politano, and Lorenzo Insigne supporting him from behind.
The break was more indulgent with Milan as it deprived them “only” of Rafael Leao. His place was taken by Ante Rebic who would thus make his first appearance from the start since two months. There were no additional surprises in Milan’s traditional 4-2-3-1 lineup, with the only element of curiosity being the presence of 39-year-old Daniele Bonera on the sidelines in place of Stefano Pioli – who was in isolation after testing positive for Covid earlier in the week.
On a fun note, when Milan won their last Scudetto back in 2011, both Gattuso and Bonera where in the Rossoneri roster as players…along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Bonera actually had a good support from Ibra on the pitch and he was indeed seen confabulating for long with Milan’s number 11 before the start of the game.
? | StartingXI: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly, Mario Rui, Fabian, Bakayoko, Lozano, Politano, Insigne, Mertens.#NapoliMilan
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) November 22, 2020
? #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/mz0WBt54gN
The Rossoneri‘s start was more aggressive and led Milan to threaten Meret twice in the initial stages of the game. The Napoli goalkeeper denied Hakan Calhanoglu’s long-range effort but didn’t have to do anything a few minutes later as Simon Kjaer missed the target from a corner kick on which the Partenopei‘s defending was quite poor.
But after these timid initial exchanges, it was Ibrahimovic’s big head to draw first blood once again for the Rossoneri. Ibra’s conversion was perfect as usual, but credit must also to go Theo Hernandez for whipping a brilliant cross from the left side. The Swede won a direct duel with Kalidou Koulibaly as Napoli’s center-back totally failed to mark him properly in the occasion.
Napoli’s reaction was fast: A tricky shot from Dries Mertens prompted Gianluigi Donnarumma to spring to his left and palm the ball away. From the subsequent corner kick, Bakayoko tested Milan’s goalie again and Giovanni Di Lorenzo failed a macroscopic chance to tap in from his save, rather sending the ball crashing into the crossbar.
A Matteo Politano long-range shot on 34 minutes was Napoli’s next chance but the ball ended wide away from Donnarumma’s right post. That was all for the first half.
Our starting line-up, Rebić from the start ?
— AC Milan (@acmilan) November 22, 2020
La formazione: Ante torna dal primo minuto! ?#SempreMilan #NapoliMilan@EASPORTSFIFA pic.twitter.com/PCKLc0pZkQ
Napoli restarted the game attacking but were punished by a textbook counterattack in the 53rd minute. Theo Hernandez recovered the ball in his defensive third and prompted Hakan Calhanoglu’s progression. The Turk served Ante Rebic with a brilliant filtering pass, and the Croat had enough time to work the ball for Ibra on the far post – making it a child play’s for him to wrap his daily brace.
There was still life in the Partenopei and Dries Mertens showed it clearly as he halved the deficit for his side on 62 minutes. It all started with Bakayoko winning a tackle against Franck Kessié. The ball ended on Piotr Zielinski’s feet and the Pole served Mario Rui, whose pass for Mertens set the Belgian free to beat Donnarumma with a sharp finish.
But right after that, Bakayoko went a bit too far with his tackles and saw yellow for knocking Hernandez down. It was the second booking for the Frenchman who thus left his side with one man less for the remainder of the game – basically shattering their hopes of completing their comeback.
Still, Milan risked a lot in the 72nd minute when substitute Andrea Petagna caught a long range cross on which Milan’s defensive line appeared unprepared and went one-on-one with Donnarumma. Gigio however managed to deny him to preserve his side’s one-goal advantage.
Multiple substitutions and fouls – with referee Paolo Valeri booking several players from both sides – eventually slowed down the match pace. Chances started to dwindle but Milan conceded two more to the Partenopei – good for them that Fabian Ruiz’s effort ended quite far from Donnarumma’s right goal post and that Petagna’s shot during stoppage time hit Milan’s goalie.
Napoli didn’t deserve more punishment but Norwegian substitute Jens Petter Hauge was ruthless and wrapped up the game with a beautiful solo effort – a step-over to free himself of his marker and a fine finish past Meret to set the score at 1-3.
Since tonight, whispering the S-word can no longer be a taboo at Milan though Ibra’s injury will keep Stefano Pioli and Daniele Bonera anxious for a while.
MATCH REPORT
November 22, 2020 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 8
NAPOLI-MILAN 1-3
SCORERS: 20′ Ibrahimovic (M), 54′ Ibrahimovic (M), 62′ Mertens (N), 94′ Hauge (M)
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NAPOLI (4-2-3-1): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Fabian Ruiz (90′ Elmas), Bakayoko; Politano (69′ Petagna), Insigne, Lozano (56′ Zielinski); Mertens (Ospina, Contini, Malcuit, Maksimovic, Ghoulam, Demme, Lobotka) Coach: Gattuso |
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MILAN (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessié, Bennacer; Saelemaekers (73′ Castillejo), Calhanoglu (87′ Krunic), Rebic (73′ Hauge); Ibrahimovic (78′ Colombo) (Tatarusanu, A. Donnarumma, Diogo Dalot, Duarte, Gabbia, Conti, Tonali, Brahim Diaz) Coach: Pioli |
REFEREE: Mr. Valeri from Roma
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Mario Rui (N); Rebic, Kessie, Castillejo (M); Extra Time: 1st Half: 3′; 2nd Half 5′:
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