Milan falls with Napoli: Inter flies and the Champions area lights up

The best omen turned into the worst case. After two decisive steps forward -Verona, United-, full of beautiful things and a future tinged with pink, for Milan here is a cold shower: Napoli beat San Siro 1-0 with a goal from Politano and it is a knockout that weighs three times. Because it allows Inter to fly to +9, because it serves a full meal to a direct rival in the Champions League and because it obscures the certainties gained in previous matches.

The Meazza is confirmed once again as a little friend of the Devil: four losses at home in the last seven appearances in the league. A stadium, or rather “his” stadium, that Gattuso violates. Happy to have given a show of force in a very difficult situation in personal terms (in the meantime now I have 10 points in four races), but perhaps a little less happy to have given a bad slap to his brighter past. Napoli had not won away from home since January 10 and this success has a disruptive effect on the fight for the Champions League. Now, excluding Inter, there are five teams on six points for three spots. It will be a fight until the end of the championship.

The options

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The infirmary returned three players to Pioli in one fell swoop, Hernández, Calhanoglu and Rebic, but lost another along the way, Calabria. Then: Dalot on the right and Tomori, who became a guarantee in some games, instead of Romagnoli, is still injured. In the middle, however, there was a novelty, namely the return of Gabbia (he had been missing since December 13, the day of the knee injury), facilitated by the non-optimal conditions of Kjaer, saved facing the return with United. . A totally new defense. In the middle Tonali was seen from the beginning, Castillejo in the trocar, Calhanoglu in the return and Krunic preferred Rebic. Ahead, as always, Leao. Gattuso also had to face several problems, forced to leave for Milan without Lozano, Rrahmani and Manolas. In practice, an almost forced defense with Maksimovic next to Koulibaly, and outside Hysaj and Di Lorenzo (the alternative in the center could have been him). Middleweight and barter were expected and the week’s big vote for the center-forward jersey brought Mertens home, with Osimhen poised to take over. A mandatory relay, as they both don’t have 90 on their legs yet.

Range differences

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The first half did not offer an unforgettable show. The teams are very careful to stay as short as possible and, after about ten minutes in midfield, the momentum has shifted towards Napoli’s side. Better in dribbling, technique and precision than Milan, but too smoky when finishing or the last pass. In points, however, the Azzurri are better, especially for greater effectiveness on the wing. Insigne has often bet on Dalot and Hysaj in particular has hammered a lot on the left bank, forcing Castillejo to be very cautious, a bit too low compared to his habits. The challenge in the other lane was more balanced because Hernandez with his tears did not allow Politano constant pressure. Napoli’s best advantage was the authority with which he took over the game, Milan’s humility to accept the rival’s technical superiority without getting angry and without being scared, but still closing the spaces quite well. The clearest opportunity ended up on Zielinski’s left, baited by Insigne, who came out. The blue 20, taken in the race and without problems on the dial, could have done much better. The rest were flashes: Hernández first shot at Leao, blocked by Ospina, and then Calhanoglu’s right-hand shot (high), still in obvious shooting like Mertens, little wanted and little reactive with the ball between his feet. Again Zielinski, neutralized by Donnarumma, and it was all for the first fraction.

Fatigue

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Napoli went to the fourth minute of the second half and the goal is consistent with what we saw in the first 45 because it was caused by the mistakes of Milan, who made mistakes several times in the same action. Dalot came out first (bad step for Castillejo, anticipated by Hysaj), then Kessie punctured the advance and finally the defensive structure, which allowed Politano to appear in front of Donnarumma with Hernández out of position. The blue winger’s right wasn’t much, a bit choked, slow but teasing enough to overtake Donnarumma. An opaque Milan, visibly tired after the intensity of the game against United and not very incisive in attack. In fact Pioli in the quarter of an hour changed the barter as a whole: within Saelemaekers, Diaz and Rebic, while Gattuso on the other side took Mertens out of the scene for Osimhen. The triple novelty gave its effects because at that moment the direction became Rossoneri. A Milan regenerated in athletic terms, but still not effective enough in the goal area. At 20 ‘the clearest opportunity of the challenge: Rebic’s perfect cross for Leao, who hit the right floor with extreme softness a few steps from the goal. A colossal meal. Then again Rebic, who exalted Ospina’s reflexes with his head. Rossoneri protests Bakayoko’s intervention in the area on Hernández, whom Pasqua reviewed in the Var, evaluating him not for a penalty. Milan tried to the end, but taking more advantage of the belly of the head. That Rebic lost in the recovery: direct red for not very pretty sentences to the referee. A great nonsense even in light of Leao’s departure from the field, apparently due to muscular problems.