Series A
Serie A | Napoli 2-2 Milan: Comeback from Giroud brace

Milan appeared to have it wrapped up with an early Olivier Giroud brace of headers, however magnificent items of ability from Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori snatched a 2-2 draw for Napoli.
The Rossoneri had been badly in want of a lift after defeats to Juventus and PSG. Whereas Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez returned from suspension, Malick Thiaw was banned, becoming a member of injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samuel Chukwueze, Simon Kjaer, Ismael Bennacer, Marco Sportiello and Mattia Caldara. Victor Osimhen was nonetheless out after an damage on worldwide obligation, with Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa solely match for the bench.
These sides met 4 instances final season, Milan profitable 4-0 right here after which eliminating Napoli from the Champions League quarter-final.
A Yunus Musah shot was deflected into the trail of Olivier Giroud, forcing Amir Rrahmani right into a determined block, however Pierre Kalulu pulled up with a muscular downside after simply 18 minutes, so Marco Pellegrino needed to make his Milan debut.
Nonetheless, the guests broke the impasse as Christian Pulisic whipped in a left-footed cross from the appropriate and Giroud timed the run completely for a glancing header, as Alex Meret with one hand was unable to maintain it out. It was the veteran’s first aim in all competitors since September 1.
Maignan ran an enormous danger when flying exterior the field to make the sort out on Matteo Politano, then Kvaratskhelia rolled throughout the face of aim just for Politano to faucet it onto the side-netting.
It was a expensive error, as a result of Milan doubled their lead with a really related aim, this time Davide Calabria’s cross from the appropriate discovered Giroud to carry off Amir Rrahmani and nod in from six yards.
Tijjani Reijnders ought to’ve completed higher when sweeping over the bar first time from the Theo Hernandez pull-back, then Giacomo Raspadori volleyed a Piotr Zielinski pull-back astray.
Milan threatened a 3rd on the stroke of half-time with Meret getting right down to smother Musah’s effort on the base of the close to publish.
Napoli had been struggling badly and coach Rudi Garcia made three modifications at half-time, introducing Giovanni Simeone, Leo Ostigard and Mathias Olivera, whereas Pulisic went off with a muscular difficulty.
It paid off, as Politano instantly obtained them again into the sport with a sensational solo effort. He flicked it over Pellegrino, in the reduction of inside Theo Hernandez and smashed it into the roof of the web from a difficult angle together with his left foot.
Politano then despatched Giovanni Di Lorenzo to the by-line and the captain went for aim, forcing Maignan to parry together with his legs on the close to publish.
Maignan fumbled one other Di Lorenzo cross that Napoli couldn’t benefit from, then Fikayo Tomori with a decisive header to forestall Simeone scoring.
The strain paid off, as Napoli accomplished the comeback for 2-2 with a marvellous Raspadori free kick, however the Milan wall appeared to be within the improper place, as he curled it across the facet into the close to publish. Extremely, it was the primary direct free kick scored in Serie A all season.
Leao accomplished a give and go along with Musah’s back-heel flick to drill low, forcing Meret to get down and palm it spherical the bottom of the upright.
Giroud and Leao had been each livid when substituted 10 minutes from time, however Napoli ended the sport with 10 males as Natan obtained his second yellow card for entering into late on Romero.
Calabria nearly received it for Milan in stoppages, his header discovering the improper facet of the web on the again publish. Napoli had an enormous likelihood too with the final kick of the sport, Maignan utilizing his legs to parry the Kvaratskhelia strike from shut vary.
Napoli 2-2 Milan
Giroud 22, 31 (M), Politano 50 (N), Raspadori 63 (N)
Despatched off: Natan 89 (N)


Napoli

Milan
Participant statistic
22′ | Olivier Giroud (Help: Christian Pulisic) | |||
31′ | Olivier Giroud (Help: Davide Calabria) |
Matteo Politano (Help: Giovanni Di Lorenzo) | 50′ | |||
Natan | 53′ | |||
55′ | Tijjani Reijnders | |||
62′ | Luka Romero | |||
Giacomo Raspadori | ![]() | 63′ | ||
Giovanni Di Lorenzo | 65′ | |||
78′ | Yunus Musah | |||
Alessandro Zanoli | ![]() | 86′ | ||
Natan | ![]() | 89′ |
Match statistic
Napoli
Milan
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