A deft touch from Olivier Giroud was enough to see AC Milan take all three points in Naples on Sunday, sending them back to the top of the Serie A table.
An energetic first half was expected given the importance of the mammoth clash, with both sides tied on 57 points and able to go top with a victory. Despite penalty shouts for both sides early on, Milan had control of proceedings and looked like going ahead, but were unable to do so before the break.
Napoli seemed to be consumed by the occasion and buckled early in the second half, when Giroud pounced first to flick in a wayward shot for 1-0. It forced the hosts to try and ramp up the pressure as the game drew on, but Milan never looked uncomfortable and always carried a threat on the break to see out an immensely important victory.
Four changes were made from the midweek stalemate against Inter in the Coppa Italia. Sandro Tonali immediately returned to the starting XI following his suspension, while Junior Messias, Davide Calabria and Pierre Kalulu also came into the side.
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was boisterous and immediately filled with big game feel, as both sides put their foot to the floor from the very first whistle. Milan had faint appeals for a penalty waived off by Daniele Orsato after Ismael Bennacer and Kalidou Koulibaly clashed after five minutes, ultimately resulting in a booking for Stefano Pioli. Napoli had an appeal of their own ignored after 13 minutes, with the hosts starting brighter and regularly finding Victor Osimhen with vertical passes.
Milan grew into the game after seeing off a strong Napoli start, and almost pulled ahead after 17 minutes when Messias’ header forced a fine save out of David Ospina from a corner, only for Orsato to blow for a Milan foul in the box anyway.
A coming together between Koulibaly and Olivier Giroud resulted in a nasty gash on the Frenchman’s calf that required treatment, as a tense atmosphere between the two sides continued to grow. The Rossoneri now had control, though, and looked good for a goal whenever finding Rafael Leao in space or isolating Napoli’s defenders – a positive knowing that Luciano Spalletti’s side have faltered in recent weeks, losing three in their last six home matches.
Leao looked menacing whenever he picked up the ball in wide areas with a defender to run at. Deploying Tonali behind Franck Kessie and Ismael Bennacer gave the squad balance, with the 21-year-old sitting deeper and allowing the full backs to push on. Napoli managed to make it to half-time without conceding, however, with Milan unable to regularly test Ospina.
Despite doubts about whether or not he would resurface after suffering that nasty cut in the first half, it was Giroud who popped up with the opener after 49 minutes. Sneaking back into an onside position following a rebounded free-kick, a perfectly timed touch of French flair saw him open up his foot to instinctively divert Davide Calabria’s shot into the back of the net.
The goal galvanised the Rossoneri, who looked a threat whenever they won the ball back or overloaded in the opposition half. Napoli, meanwhile, looked sheepish and couldn’t hold the ball long enough to cause Milan any real problems.
An ankle injury finally forced Giroud off after an hour, with Ante Rebic replacing him and Rade Krunic also replacing Tonali in the process. Napoli also made changes to try and force a way into the contest, finally bringing them onto the front foot.
Adam Ounas used space on the edge of the box to attempt a curled effort after 76 minutes, but couldn’t bend it on target. Victor Osimhen worked tirelessly to find a chance to find the equaliser, but was starved of quality service.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his return from the bench in injury time following a seven game absence, helping to see out a victory that could prove pivotal in the race for the Scudetto, with second-placed Inter still to play Juventus.
