Player ratings as the Rossoneri return to the top of Serie A

Milan secured three impressive points against Napoli to remain undefeated in Serie A and return to the top of the table, winning 2-1 without head coach Stefano Pioli, who was unavailable after returning a positive COVID-19 test.

It was a cautious 20-minute start, until Zlatan Ibrahimovic put Milan up 1-0 by heading home from a Theo Hernandez cross. Napoli woke up after conceding a goal and pressed for the rest of the half, but failed to break Milan’s defense.

The Rossoneri struggled to wake up in the first bars of the second half and Gennaro Gattuso’s team began to make holes in their defense, approaching but without threatening the goal enough. They were punished on the counter, with Ante Rebic sliding the ball for Ibrahimovic to grab a double in the 54th minute.

Dries Mertens rose to half the deficit in the 63rd minute, but a second yellow card for Tiemoue Bakayoko just two minutes later made the hill even steeper for the locals to climb. They tried to move on after the Frenchman was sent off, but could not find a way, as Milan secured victory through substitute Jens Petter Hauge, scoring his first goal in Serie A.

With all that said and done, let’s see how the players fared.

Alex Meret (GK) – 6/10 – Denied Hakan Calhanoglu with a clever save and was unable to do anything with Ibrahimovic’s header during a largely inactive first half.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo (RB) – 5/10 – He encountered a rare view of the goal from a corner, but hit the crossbar at point-blank range. Overwhelmed by Milan’s overlaps on the left flank.

Kostas Manolas (CB) – 5/10 – Resigned to sensible work for the first 45 minutes as his partner ventured forward for the tie. He couldn’t do much for Milan’s second with Napoli stuck at the break.

Kalidou Koulibaly (CB) – 5/10 – Harassed by Ibrahimovic’s experience in Milan’s opener but played an impressive role in becoming a de facto target for Napoli going forward. However, he left the defense on his side exposed.

Mario Rui (LB) – 6/10 – Little to do, but lacked enough precision and skill in attack to really help his team in the first half. He pushed further in the second and appeared to help Mertens attack.

Hirving Lozano (RW) – 5/10 – He showed danger signs while running inside Theo Hernandez, but couldn’t find the final ball to level the proceedings in the first half. As a result, he was hooked shortly after the break.

Fabian Ruiz (CM) – 6/10 – Completed on the back so Koulibaly could venture forward during the first half, but managed to win after the break and made some clean passes.

Tiemoue Bakayoko (CM) – 3/10 – Quiet first half, but received a harsh warning to go ahead with Alexis Saelemaekers who could do little to avoid. Sent off in the second for a much clumsier challenge that justified the second yellow.

Lorenzo Insigne (LW) – 6/10 – Fought to hit a hawk-eyed Davide Calabria in the first 45 minutes, but had more influence after the break. He played some clean passes and unlocked Milan from the inside.

Matteo Politano (CF) – 7/10 – Excellent movement off the ball by Politano in a position he is not used to like number ten. He created holes in Milan’s defense in the first half and had chances to score, before moving to the left in the second half.

Dries Mertens (ST) – 7/10 – Forced a good save from Donnarumma in the first half and kept attacking after the break. The game concentrated in the area allowed him to throw one back for Napoli.

Piotr Zielinski – 6/10

Andrea Petagna – 5/10

Eljif Elmas – N / A

Gianluigi Donnarumma (POR) – 7/10 – Confident play from Donnarumma who commanded his area well and made some good saves in the first half. He continued strong in the second and could do little with the goal he conceded.

Davide Calabria (RB) – 6/10 – He kept Insigne quiet and had some pretty decent spells moving forward, but most of Napoli’s attacks came from the other flank in the first half.

Simon Kjaer (CB) – 6/10 – The experienced Dane ordered the game well, coming out when necessary to eliminate danger and keeping his team ahead in the first half when Napoli looked for a quick response.

Alessio Romagnoli (CB) – 6/10 – Romagnoli’s lack of rhythm showed itself at times, but he did well to cover Theo Hernández every time the full-back got ahead.

Theo Hernández (LB) – 7/10 – Caught one-on-one at times, but put the ball back on the plate with a cross cross to help Ibrahimovic on Milan’s first goal. His pace of work is key for Milan’s counterattack game to be a success.

Franck Kessie (DM) – 7/10 – He stopped Napoli from playing through the middle and started Milan’s forward moves with some good passes both short and long range, while also bouncing back and making some solid tackles.

Ismael Bennacer (DM) – 7/10 – Not his most extravagant performance and he was dispossessed in dangerous areas once or twice, but he did enough to keep Napoli’s attack at bay and won an assist in injury time.

Alexis Saelemaekers (RW) – 5/10 – He struggled to prevail for the most part, and his biggest contribution was getting Bakayoko to book. Mostly a bad day at the office.

Hakan Calhanoglu (AM) – 8/10 – It seemed dangerous with every touch during the first half. He created opportunities and led the transition for his side, leaving the field after 87 minutes with 94% passing accuracy.

Ante Rebic (LW) – 7/10 – Calm display in the first half, but worked hard without the ball at all times. He came to life in the second with a smart run and a cross to help Ibrahimovic in his second on the fast break.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (ST) – 9/10 – Returned to the top of the Serie A scorers’ chart with a perfectly placed header in the first half after hardly being involved until then. He landed an important second after 54 minutes against the game’s streak to extend the away lead. Unfortunately, he was denied a hat-trick after leaving the field injured.

Samuel Castillejo – 6/10

Jens Petter Hauge – 6/10 – He secured the points with a confident dink, scoring his first Serie A goal in the process.

Lorenzo Colombo – 5/10

Rade Krunic – N / A