12/02/2024
270 times read
12/02/2024
270 times read
MILAN , Feb 12, AP): AC Milan piled the pressure on second-place Juventus with its first Serie A victory over Napoli at San Siro in almost a decade.
Théo Hernandez’s first-half strike was enough to give Milan a 1-0 win over the defending champions.
Inter won 4-2 at Roma on Saturday to open up a seven-point lead at the top of Serie A.
Napoli remained seventh and slipped seven points below fourth-place Atalanta.
Milan hadn’t beaten Napoli in the league at home since 2014, although it had earned victories in the Italian Cup and last year in the Champions League.
Star Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was given a new and liberating role by Walter Mazzarri and that almost had an immediate impact as he dribbled down the right before crossing for Giovanni Simeone, but he fired just past the right post.
Milan took the lead in the 22nd minute when Olivier Giroud spread the ball to Rafael Leão on the left and he played a delightful through ball for Hernandez to run onto and fire into the near bottom corner.