THUR, APRIL. 13 2023-theGBJournal |In ten days, Milan have defeated Napoli twice, the first a 4-0 season win at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Fans were expecting a revenge-minded Osimhen-less Napoli side in their Champions League quarterfinal knockout tie.
But a Ismaël Bennacer goal and Andre Zambo Anguissa’s red card gave Milan a 1-0 slender first leg victory over Napoli.
FT: Milan 1-0 Napoli
xG: 1.17-1.41
Shots: 12-16
Shots on target: 2-6
Touches in opp. box: 20-21
Possession: 46.7%-53.5%
Cards: 3-5
Has Milan found the Napoli antidote? Milan has defeated Napoli back-to-back. The 4-0 humbling defeat they suffered last time they met in the league was seen by many as a fluke, but with a second win in two games, it seems Milan knows how to beat them. How milan beat Napoli.
Napoli tend to thrive using their wingers and their fullbacks to overload attacks, with their attacker acting as a complete forward, whose work is to drop deep to distract defenders, interchange with the wingers, and also be ready to be at the opposition box at all times.
This is very complex and needs a perfect extra defensive setup to prevent being countered. Milan found a way to absorb the pressure by cutting their creative support.
Rade Krunic paired Sandro Tonali, and they not only acted as mildfielders but as left and right center backs, not only protecting the center backs but also relieving them of dirty tackles and leaving them in their defensive position so they could block balls from reaching Napoli’s target man, and they also acted as decoys for the fullbacks when defending.
The aim is to get the ball and play it to Milan’s fast wingers, who then counter; for Milan to execute perfectly, they must have cut off the supply of balls entering their box. Then the work is half done. For Milan, two is good, but can they do a perfect three?
NO Victor Osimhen No box threat
Victor Osimhen has missed Napoli’s last three games, and despite Napoli winning one, his absence was greatly felt. He is central to the way Napoli plays, with his ability to hold play, score out of nothing, and also be at the box at all times. He is like the target man and allows Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to flourish. Without him, Napoli seems lost, and this shows what the future would be without him. Giacomo Raspadori and Simeone have played well when called upon, but they need to show more grit if Napoli is to keep up the momentum in the post-Osimhen era.
Man of Match
Magical Mike vital to Milan team
Mike Maignan’s game by numbers vs. Napoli:
56 touches
41 passes
11 ball recoveries
5 saves made
3 saves from shots inside the box
0 goals conceded-Curtsey of Wavysport
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