This Sunday evening in Serie A, Naples and AC Milan parted back to back (2-2) at the end of a crazy match. In 9 minutes, French international Olivier Giroud scored two goals (22nd, 31st) before the 2023 reigning champion woke up and scored two goals by Politano (50th) and Raspadori (63rd).
This Italian shock was dear for the two teams who rose to the challenge. One after the other. At the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, the first quarter of an hour was content to be a long round of observation even if Giroud missed a first opportunity to enter the match (2nd). It was only a postponement for the French striker, who chose his moment well to end his streak of eight games without scoring in all competitions. The French striker, a formidable leading player who needs no introduction, deceived Meret for the first time on a precise cross from Pulisic, to launch the Rossoneri perfectly (0-1, 22nd). Napoli, orphan of Victor Osimhen, missed the equalizer by Politano (27th) before falling asleep completely. Milan took the opportunity to add to the score, again thanks to Giroud’s header with the help of the post (0-2, 31st). Faced with the reigning champion’s beleaguered defense, Stefano Pioli’s players could even have flown away if Reijnders had been more precise (41st). A golden opportunity that they will regret later… Sovereigns in hostile territory, the Rouge et Noir finished the first period with 12 shots, only deploring the injury exit of Frenchman Pierre Kalulu (19th).
Contested by his supporters in recent weeks, Rudi Garcia had to react and launched three fresh men at the break (Olivera, Simeone, Ostigard). It was ultimately the evening’s starters who sounded the revolt, Politano reducing the gap with an individual exploit in the area (1-2, 50th). Napoli had regained all its virtues (pressing, offensive excess, movement) for enormous pressure on Maignan’s cage, vigilant in front of Di Lorenzo (59th). The French goalkeeper, however, lost to Raspadori’s powerful strike, scoring from a direct free kick, on the open side, for the equalizer (2-2, 63rd). This shock then became completely unbridled and illegible, Leao passing very close to 2-3 (67th). The Maradona public wanted even more but the Neapolitans seemed to be struggling on a physical level. Tossed in all directions since returning from the locker room, the Rossoneri finished the match better, with numerical superiority after the expulsion of Natan for a second yellow card (89th). Calabria missed the match point for the visitors (91st), then offered to Kvaratskhelia, out of breath and out of legs, who did not beat Maignan (94th).
At the end of 90 intense and exciting minutes, Naples and Milan logically leave each other back to back. This draw does not help anyone in the Serie A standings. Napoli remains 4th, four points behind their evening opponent, 3rd and relegated three lengths behind the leader, Inter Milan.