At stadio Maradona, Milan destroyed the league leaders with a humiliating 4-0 win. Rafael Leao scored a brace, while Diaz and Saelemaekers got on scoresheet too.
From the starting lineup that defeated Torino 4-0 before the break, Napoli made three changes. Olivera was replaced by Rui at left-back, and Politano was chosen over Lozano for the right wing position. Simeone replaced the injured Victor Osimhen at striker in the final switch.
Milan changed five players from the team that fell to Udinese 3-1 on March 18. Calabria replaced Thiaw in defence due to a change in formation, and Kjaer was given the opportunity to play centre back due to Pierre Kalulu’s injury. In the middle, Giroud returned from suspension in place of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Hernandez was preferred over Ballo-Toure and Krunic over Saelemaekers.
Milan was given the game’s first significant opportunity when Hernandez drove to the byline before pulling back a cross. When the ball got to Diaz at the penalty spot, Meret did a good job of stopping him from scoring.
Politano was given the opportunity to cross with his weaker right foot, but Calabria intercepted the delivery and nodded it backward to initially avert the threat.
Simeone received a low cross from Zielinski after he recovered a lost ball on the left wing, and he fired a dangerous shot on the turn that just missed the goal.
While gliding past three Milan defenders and slipping past Bennacer with a deft feint as he entered the penalty area, Kvaratskhelia’s final touch past Kjaer let him down, giving Maignan a chance to regain possession.
Before sending a curling cross to the far post, Leao attempted to take on Di Lorenzo. Although the Portugal international had a good idea, the ball was allowed to roll behind for a goal kick because no teammate attacked the open area.
On the 17th minute, in the right wing, Diaz displayed some deft trickery to evade two defenders before playing a perfectly timed pass for Leao into the channel. The winger used his first touch to get Meret off his line before executing an incredible chip to beat the goalkeeper. and give Milan lead.
Hernandez tried to find Giroud with a charge through midfield from 18 yards out, but under pressure from Politano and Lobotka, he was brought down. The left-back searched for a free-kick call but was unsuccessful because the referee continued play with the hosts in possession.
Politano flashed a cross to the outside of the 18-yard box rather than utilising Di Lorenzo’s overlapping run. Simeone brought it down and attempted to apply more pressure, but the referee immediately blew his whistle for handball on the striker, who used his arm to bring the ball down from the air.
On the 25th minute, Giroud and Leao exchanged passes at the edge of the box before Bennacer was sent down the left wing into space. The international from Algeria delivered a strong cross into the area for Diaz, who controlled the ball well and then faked a shot to get past a sliding Rui before putting the ball in the back of the net and doubling Milan’s lead.
Kvaratskhelia attempted to volley a ball through Calabria out of frustration, but the winger’s follow-through hit the right-back in a very vulnerable spot. Deep on the right flank, the Milan captain required some minor medical attention.
Inside of his own half, Leao stole the ball from Di Lorenzo before sprinting forward to launch Milan on a counterattack. Though Giroud had the entire side of the goal to himself, the striker dragged shot wide of the far post after Bennacer found him.
From the left byline, Kim manoeuvred himself into a position to dig out a cross towards goal, but Maignan quickly dropped his body to make a deft stop at the near post.
Leao was a nightmare to Napoli defenders and made the score 3-0. The Milan winger scored brilliantly, latching onto Tonali’s leading pass on the left wing after a midfield turnover in possession. Before unleashing a strike that gave Meret no chance, the Portugal international twisted and turned to outwit three Napoli defenders.
Saelemaekers gained control of the ball in the centre of the field about 20 yards from the goal, advanced past four Napoli defenders, used a deft move to get past Kim, and then fired a shot that went through Meret’s legs to give Milan a commanding 4-0 lead.
After using his strength to hold off Elmas, Saelemaekers displayed yet another skill in midfield to get past Rui. He then fired a shot from 25 yards out that compelled Meret to dive to save the ball.
Meret was up to the challenge, deflecting De Ketelaere’s powerful shot away to safety after he cut inside from the right side.
FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE ON TWITTER
READ MORE;
Juventus 1-0 Verona: Juve continues their winning streak
Inter 0-1 Fiorentina: La Viola stunned Inter at San Siro
PSG planning to replace Lionel Messi with Rafael Leao