AC Milan 1-0 Napoli (Feb 11, 2024) Game Analysis

A primary-half objective from Theo Hernández was sufficient to seal a 1-0 victory for AC Milan over visiting champions Napoli on Sunday, serving to Stefano Pioli’s facet stay unbeaten in Serie A because the flip of the 12 months.

The France defender managed a superb go from Rafael Leão on the sting of the field and despatched it low previous Napoli goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini to provide Milan the lead within the twenty fifth minute.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

Milan, third within the standings on 52 factors, prolonged their unbeaten league run to 9 video games, together with seven wins.

They are eight factors behind leaders Inter Milan and one adrift of Juventus in second, who each have a sport in hand.

“We worked very well in the first half, then in the second we lost some distance, but we couldn’t imagine not conceding anything to Napoli, who have a lot of quality,” Pioli informed a information convention.

Walter Mazzarri’s facet, ninth on 35 factors, travelled to Milan with out striker Victor Osimhen, who on the identical time performed with Nigeria in opposition to Ivory Coast within the Africa Cup of Nations remaining.

Pioli, in the meantime, needed to make an early change when defender Davide Calabria was compelled off within the thirty seventh minute and Alessandro Florenzi got here on for the Milan captain.

With Italy supervisor Luciano Spalletti watching from the stands, Napoli had an early likelihood when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia squared the ball to ahead Giovanni Simeone contained in the field however the Argentine knocked it vast along with his first contact.

But Milan had been the higher crew and, after Hernandez netted the opener, Leao might have doubled their lead three minutes later with a shot from distance, which compelled Gollini right into a save.

Napoli, who didn’t have a shot on course within the opening 45 minutes, confirmed extra intent after the break however substitute Matteo Politano narrowly missed the goal when he fired from exterior the field on the hour mark.

They had one other alternative one minute from the top of the sport when midfielder Jesper Lindstrom despatched in a cross which got here off Milan defender Jan-Carlo Simic and hit the put up, narrowly avoiding an personal objective.

Napoli haven’t scored a single objective of their final 5 away video games within the league, their longest such streak since 1979 (a run of six).

Earlier on Sunday, Fiorentina hammered Frosinone 5-1 at house for his or her first win in 5 Serie A video games.

Fifth-placed Bologna beat Lecce 4-0 and Atalanta, in fourth, received 4-1 at Genoa within the day’s different matches.