MY ACCOUNT
Rafael Leao scored two brilliant goals as Milan stunned Serie A leaders Napoli with a crushing 4-0 victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday.
Leao netted either side of a close-range strike from Brahim Diaz, opening the scoring with a lobbed one-on-one finish before doubling up with a powerful effort on the break.
With Serie A’s leading marksman Victor Osimhen out injured, Napoli applied plenty of pressure but lacked cutting edge and Alexis Saelemaekers added some gloss with a fine solo goal for the Scudetto holders.
The result saw Milan take advantage of Inter’s loss to Fiorentina by going third in the table, and Stefano Pioli will hope it represents a sign of things to come ahead of the teams’ upcoming Champions League quarter-final tie.
Giovanni Simeone – starting in place of Osimhen – missed the first clear chance when he fired over from 12 yards out, but it was Milan who struck first after 17 minutes.
Leao raced onto Diaz’s throughball before dinking an impudent finish over Alex Meret, silencing the home crowd and ending his 11-game goal drought at club level.
Things got even better for the Rossoneri eight minutes later, with Diaz sitting Mario Rui down after controlling Ismael Bennacer’s left-wing cross before finishing high into the roof of the net.
Mike Maignan made strong saves to thwart Piotr Zielinski and Rui as Napoli looked to hit back, while Olivier Giroud went close to finding the bottom-right corner after the interval.
Despite Napoli dominating possession, Milan went further ahead when Leao capped a lightning break by tricking his way past Amir Rrahmani and lashing into the top-right corner.
With Napoli all at sea defensively, Saelemaekers added a memorable strike of his own, dancing through several Partenopei challenges before prodding beyond Meret after 67 minutes.
What does it mean? Milan send Champions League message
With Luciano Spalletti’s men still 16 points clear at the Serie A summit, Milan’s memorable win will do little to hamper Napoli’s hopes of a first league title since 1990.
However, with two Champions League meetings to come later this month, Napoli will now be acutely aware of the damage Milan can cause on the break.
Milan have now won on three successive league trips to Napoli for just the second time, having also done so between 1948 and 1951, while this resounding victory could prove decisive in their battle to qualify for the next edition of Europe’s premier competition.
Leao ends long wait in style
Leao played a key role in Milan’s Scudetto triumph last term, but a run of 11 games without a goal for his club – stretching back to January 14 – had seen him criticised by the Rossoneri’s supporters.
The 23-year-old was back to his electrifying best on Sunday, leading his team-mates for expected goals (0.66 xG) and managing a joint-high three shots alongside Diaz, as well as taking two chances in expert fashion.
Rossoneri run riot
Prior to Sunday’s game, the last team to net four goals on their travels against the team top of Serie A was Fiorentina, who thrashed then-leaders Inter 4-1 at San Siro in September 2015.
Pioli’s team will soon lose their domestic crown to Napoli, but their scintillating performance will raise hopes they could extend their strong run in the Champions League.
What’s next?
Napoli go to Lecce in Serie A on Friday while Milan host Empoli on the same day, before the sides renew hostilities in the Champions League the following week.
