Serie A: Pagelle Milan-Napoli, Vittoria Napoli con Lukaku e Kvaratskhelia
The San Siro witnessed a thrilling clash between two Serie A giants, AC Milan and Napoli, as the Partenopei secured a crucial 2-0 victory. The match was a tale of two halves, with Napoli dominating the first and Milan struggling to find their footing until the final whistle. Here’s a breakdown of the performances of both teams, with individual player ratings:
Napoli (4-3-3):
- Meret (7): A solid performance from the Napoli goalkeeper, making crucial saves to deny Milan any chance of a comeback. His positioning and reflexes were on point.
- Di Lorenzo (6.5): A reliable presence on the right flank, providing defensive solidity and occasional attacking runs.
- Rrahmani (7): Dominant in the air and a rock in defense, Rrahmani shut down Milan's attacking threats effectively.
- Kim Min-jae (7): Another impressive display from the South Korean defender. His aerial prowess and calm demeanor were vital to Napoli's defensive success.
- Olivera (6.5): A consistent performer on the left, providing both offensive and defensive contributions.
- Lobotka (7): The engine in midfield, controlling the pace of the game and dictating Napoli's play.
- Anguissa (6.5): A powerful presence in midfield, breaking up Milan's attacks and providing support going forward.
- Zielinski (6): Had a quiet game compared to his usual standards but still played a vital role in Napoli's midfield dominance.
- Kvaratskhelia (8): The Georgian winger was a constant threat, dazzling with his dribbling skills, creating scoring opportunities, and ultimately bagging the second goal.
- Osimhen (7): A tireless worker upfront, constantly pressing the Milan defense and linking up with his teammates effectively.
- Politano (6.5): A lively presence on the right wing, providing width and creating danger with his runs.
Substitutes:
- Elmas (6): Brought energy to the midfield, providing a fresh impetus to the game.
- Raspadori (6): Came on late to add further attacking depth.
- Ndombele (N/A): Too late to be assessed.
Milan (4-2-3-1):
- Maignan (6): Despite conceding two goals, Maignan made some important saves and was generally solid in goal.
- Calabria (5.5): Struggled to contain the threat posed by Kvaratskhelia and was generally outplayed.
- Tomori (5.5): Not at his best, finding it hard to cope with Osimhen's physicality.
- Thiaw (5): A shaky performance, particularly in the first half, where he was often caught out of position.
- Theo Hernandez (6): Showed flashes of brilliance, but his overall performance was overshadowed by Napoli's dominance.
- Krunic (5): Struggled to impose himself in midfield and lacked the necessary creative spark.
- Tonali (6): Battled hard but found himself overwhelmed by Napoli's midfield control.
- Brahim Diaz (5.5): A frustrating performance, failing to create much in the final third.
- Leao (6): Showed glimpses of his talent, but his impact was limited by a lack of service.
- Giroud (5): Struggled to get into the game, isolated upfront and unable to provide a threat.
- Rebic (6): Added some energy and intent after coming on, but it was too late to change the outcome.
Substitutes:
- Pobega (6): Provided some drive and energy in midfield.
- De Ketelaere (5.5): A brief cameo but failed to make a significant impact.
Key Moments:
- 42nd Minute: Napoli took the lead when Lukaku, just minutes after coming on, found the back of the net with a powerful header.
- 53rd Minute: Kvaratskhelia doubled Napoli's advantage with a spectacular strike from outside the box.
Conclusion:
Napoli's victory was a convincing one, showcasing their dominance and tactical prowess. They were clinical in front of goal, with Lukaku's late impact and Kvaratskhelia's brilliance making the difference. Milan, on the other hand, struggled to cope with Napoli's intensity and creativity, ultimately failing to find a way back into the game.
This win reaffirms Napoli's status as a serious title contender, while Milan will need to regroup and find a way to regain their form in the upcoming games. The battle for the Serie A title is heating up, and this match was a clear reminder of Napoli's potential.