Milan vs Napoli Results: Morata Goal Disallowed, Rossoneri Lose 0-2 – The match between AC Milan and Napoli in Serie A took place with high intensity on Sunday night. Napoli managed to beat AC Milan with a score of 2-0 in a match full of drama, where a goal from Álvaro Morata was disallowed. Here is a complete review of the match.
First Half: Napoli Dominance
In the first half, Napoli immediately took control of the game with fast and effective attacks. Attack after attack from the wings and center managed to trouble Milan’s back line, led by Fikayo Tomori and Simon Kjær. Napoli’s quality of play was seen to be superior in ball possession, making it difficult for Milan to develop attacks.
In the 27th minute, Napoli finally opened the scoring through a goal scored by Giovanni Di Lorenzo. A perfect pass from Piotr Zielinski was continued by Di Lorenzo with a hard kick that Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan could not reach. This goal changed the score to 1-0 for Napoli’s advantage.
Second Half: Morata’s Goal Disallowed and Napoli Increase Their Lead
In the second half, Milan tried to retaliate and increase the intensity of their attacks. However, Napoli remained solid in defense, maintaining their lead well. In the 63rd minute, Milan managed to equalize through Álvaro Morata, but the goal was disallowed by VAR for offside. This decision was a big blow for the Rossoneri who were trying to come back from behind.
Shortly after, Napoli doubled their lead through Victor Osimhen’s goal in the 72nd minute. Osimhen took advantage of a through ball from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and managed to beat Maignan with an accurate right-footed shot. The score changed to 2-0 for Napoli, and Milan were under even more pressure.
End of the Match: Bitter Defeat for Milan
Until the final whistle was blown, Milan were unable to score a reply goal. Napoli’s strong defense and solid play in midfield made it difficult for Milan to penetrate the opponent’s defense. This defeat is a heavy blow for the Rossoneri, who are ambitious to continue competing at the top of the Serie A standings this season.
On the other hand, Napoli managed to secure three important points in the hunt for the championship title. This victory shows their compactness and quality of play under the direction of the new coach.
Match Statistics
- Ball Possession: Milan 48% – Napoli 52%
- Shots on Target: Milan 3 – Napoli 5
- Fouls: Milan 15 – Napoli 12
- Yellow Cards: Milan 2 – Napoli 1
This 0-2 defeat to Napoli is a warning for AC Milan to immediately improve their performance, especially in attack. The disallowing of Morata’s goal shows how strict the rules and VAR supervision are in big matches like this. For Napoli, this victory further strengthens their position in the standings and is a signal that they are a team to be reckoned with in the fight for the Serie A title this season.
Coach and Player Reactions
After the match, AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli expressed his disappointment with the results achieved by his team. Pioli said that Milan played quite well, but lacked composure in taking advantage of opportunities. He also commented on the disallowed goal by Morata which he considered a crucial moment. According to Pioli, if the goal had been validated, the situation could have been different because Milan would have gained momentum to equalize or even turn things around. ( Purislot )
On the other hand, Napoli coach Rudi Garcia appreciated the performance of his players who performed consistently throughout the match. Garcia highlighted the sharpness of Napoli’s attack line which managed to take advantage of important opportunities and the skill of the defenders in holding back Milan’s attacks. Garcia also gave special praise to Victor Osimhen, who played brilliantly by scoring goals and continuing to pressure Milan’s defense.
Osimhen himself in a post-match interview said that he was very happy to be able to help the team achieve victory. He felt that his team’s performance was increasingly solid and was sure that Napoli would continue to compete at the top until the end of the season.
Impact on Serie A Standings
This victory provides a significant boost for Napoli in the Serie A title race. With three additional points, Napoli are now closer to the top of the standings, putting pressure on main rivals such as Inter Milan and Juventus. They showed that their team is still very competitive despite several changes that occurred at the beginning of the season.
On the other hand, this defeat forced Milan to drop in the rankings, losing important points in their efforts to maintain their position at the top. AC Milan need to improve their performance if they want to stay on track for the title. The next match will be a big test to improve their performance, especially in the attack line which is still not optimal.
Future Prospects for Both Teams
With this result, AC Milan faces a big challenge in the following matches. Stefano Pioli must immediately find the best formula to increase the effectiveness of their attacks, especially in creating opportunities and executing opportunities into goals. Morata and his colleagues in the front line must be more effective and precise in taking advantage of every opportunity that exists.
Napoli, on the other hand, have higher confidence after this victory. With a productive front line and solid defense, they have a great chance to continue competing at the top of Serie A. Rudi Garcia seems to have found the optimal game scheme to utilize the speed and sharpness of Osimhen, as well as the creativity of players like Kvaratskhelia and Zielinski.
This 0-2 defeat provides an important evaluation for AC Milan, who need to immediately improve several aspects of their game. Napoli managed to show that they are a team that is increasingly mature and ready to compete. If Milan does not recover soon, the tight competition in Serie A could leave them behind. However, the season is still long, and every team still has the opportunity to improve their performance in order to win the title.
In-depth Analysis: Key Player Performances
AC Milan
- Álvaro Morata
Morata actually performed quite well in this match, with clever movement off the ball to create space in Napoli’s defense. Unfortunately, although he managed to score, his slightly offside position resulted in the goal being disallowed by VAR. This moment was a turning point for Milan, and had the goal been allowed, the match could have been a different story. - Fikayo Tomori and Simon Kjær
The two defenders faced a tough challenge in containing Victor Osimhen’s aggression and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s speed. Tomori made several important tackles, but on several occasions he had difficulty anticipating high balls from Napoli players. Kjær, who had the advantage in aerial duels, managed to break up Napoli’s passes several times, but was ultimately overwhelmed by the opponent’s speed. - Mike Maignan
Milan’s mainstay goalkeeper made several brilliant saves to thwart Napoli’s chances, especially in the first half. However, Maignan could not do much for the two goals scored, especially with the strategic position of Di Lorenzo’s kick and Osimhen’s accurate shot. Overall, his performance was solid despite the two goals being scored in his goal.
Napoli
- Victor Osimhen
Osimhen became a nightmare for Milan’s back line with his agility and high goal-scoring instinct. He continued to press Milan’s defense and tirelessly moved to find opportunities. The goal he scored in the 72nd minute was proof of his sharpness, where he utilized a perfect pass from Kvaratskhelia perfectly. Osimhen’s presence as the spearhead made Milan’s back line continue to be threatened. - Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Kvaratskhelia performed extraordinarily with his clever through passes and dribbling skills that were difficult for Milan players to anticipate. His through pass to Osimhen for the second goal showed how important his role was in Napoli’s game. Kvaratskhelia’s creativity and pace often forced Milan’s defenders to work extra hard, and he became one of the most dangerous players on the pitch. - Giovanni Di Lorenzo
As captain, Di Lorenzo set a good example with the opening goal he scored. He also actively helped the defensive line and maintained Napoli’s depth. His contribution as captain was very visible in motivating the team and ensuring they remained focused throughout the match.
Key Factors in Milan’s Defeat
- Inability to Take Advantage of Chances
Milan created several chances in the second half, but the lack of good finishing was the main problem. Several attacks that were built often did not end with shots on target. Morata’s goal that was disallowed due to offside is an example of how important positioning is in crucial moments. - Quality of Napoli’s Midfield Play
Napoli managed to dominate possession in midfield, thanks to the solid performance of Piotr Zielinski and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa. Both were able to maintain the flow of the ball and cut off Milan’s attacks, making it difficult for Milan to build counterattacks. The compactness of the midfield was a determining factor in keeping Napoli ahead throughout the match. - Lack of Creativity in Milan’s Attack Line
AC Milan struggled to create dangerous opportunities due to the lack of creativity in their attack line. Players like Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic who were expected to be the driving force of the attack actually performed less than optimally. Napoli managed to shut down their movements, so that Milan lost the variety of attacks and were often trapped in situations that were easy for Napoli’s defenders to read.
What’s Next for Milan and Napoli?
AC Milan
Pioli must immediately find a solution to increase the sharpness of the front line. Most likely, Milan will focus on improving the transition from the middle to the front to be faster and more precise. A win in the next match will be very important for Milan to restore the team’s mentality after this defeat.
Napoli
This victory is a strong capital for Napoli to continue their positive trend in Serie A. Rudi Garcia will likely continue to rely on the same composition, emphasizing collaboration between the midfield and front lines. Napoli’s main focus going forward is to maintain consistency, especially against big teams in the following matches.
Final Conclusion
The 0-2 defeat to Napoli is a serious warning for AC Milan to immediately improve, especially in terms of utilizing opportunities and creativity in attack. On the other hand, Napoli showed that they are still a great force with a compact and effective performance. If both teams can overcome their weaknesses and optimize their respective strengths, the competition in Serie A this season will be even more exciting and tense.