Milan 0-1 Napoli Notes On A Night When Late Controversy Overshadowed A Poor Game

Milan Napoli

Two teams in the midst of injury issues faced off at the San Siro. Milan missed Rebic, Leao, Calabria, Pellegri and Kjaer while Napoli were without Lorenzo Insigne, Victor Osimhen, Mario Rui, Fabian Ruiz and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Napoli started brighter while Milan looked like an unorganized team at the back. Napoli took advantage and Elif Elmas scored a header from a corner. Tonali gave the player too much room.

As Milan showed a few signs of life Ibra wasn’t far in the 18th minute, his header from a Ballo-Toure cross missed the far side. Still the team found itself in offside positions more often than creating good chances. The rest of the first half was a struggle to create and trouble Napoli. The 0-1 half time score was a good indicator of two handicapped teams.

Ibra tested Ospina early in the second but the unchanged team looked as ineffective up front as ever. Diaz and Messias were not having a productive game. The team was incapable of winning and keeping possession. With the game going nowhere for Milan Giroud and Saelemaekers came on for Diaz and Krunic. Diaz in particular had been poor and one of the reasons Milan hadn’t created through the middle. The game remained mostly eventless and poor. In the 78th minute Bennacer came on for Tonali followed by Castillejo for Messias. Probably the best looking play of the second half so far was a one two between Ibra and Giroud that was diverted into a corner. Ibra tried but failed as a sense of urgency took over. The last roll of the dice was bringing on Kalulu for Florenzi, a move that wasn’t likely to be consequential.

After a scramble and Napoli defensive mess Kessie thought to have scored. VAR and a pitch side monitor came to Napoli’s aid as the ref called back the goal. Giroud was judged to have been offside after falling on the ground in a collision with a Napoli player. The decision to award an offside was as confusing as any recent decision and any recent football rule.

The game thus ended 0-1 but the late controversy partially overshadowed Milan’s poor game.