Napoli 3-0 Milan Merciful Hosts Settle For Three

Abate and Mexes were suspended after accumulating yellow cards. Menez was also suspended for his two yellow in the match against Genoa, but for four games total! Additionally all of Rami, Antonelli, Suso, El Shaarawy, Montolivo and Essien remained unavailable. Therefore the starting line was yet again different with Bocchetti getting a game. Nigel de Jong was the captain. The start was another reminder of the disastrous season as De Sciglio was red carded and penalty given. Diego Lopez saved from Gonzalo Higuain to save the team once more. Not many chances in the first half and Napoli only dominated in possession but did little else, Bonaventura had a half chance header in the 39th minute and Napoli made several speculative passes into Milan’s box with little end product. The first half ended with a small sign of how Milan are not managed properly. The referee added one minute, Milan got a throw in and Bocchetti was not even remotely in a hurry to throw the ball back into play before the half runs out.
The second half had Napoli take advantage of the man advantage and spot left empty by De Sciglio’s red but Jose Maria Callejon and his teams mates missed or poorly executed numerous chances. Surprisingly – or perhaps not – it was Napoli who made the fist substitution. Manolo Gabbiadini replaced Jorginho shortly before Pazzini replaced Destro. Minutes later Bonera replaced Bocchetti. Napoli’s possession percentage remained around 77%. Just as it seemed Napoli may never finish a chance Marek Hamsik shot inside the near post and beat a diving Lopez. The flood gates opened, Higuain added a second a bit later and Gabbiadini a third. Poor marking and poor play was always going to collapse sooner or later. In the final minutes Gian Filippo Felicioli (17 year old primavera midfielder) made what is a rare appearance by a youth player replacing Bonaventura. Lopez kept the score 3-0 just before the referee whistled for full time.
For more on the match as it happened click here.