20′ Rebic’s cross for Hernandez was inch-perfect, finding the left-back in acres of space.
T. Hernández
Goal
20′ MILAN TAKE THE LEAD! Immediately after giving up a goal-scoring chance, Milan take on of their own as Rebic receives a pass with his back to goal on the right, turns and fires a cross to the back post for Hernandez. The left-back gets into position at the perfect time and smashes a volley into the ground, which bounces above Ospina and into the roof of the net! 1-0!
19′ WHAT A SAVE FROM DONNARUMMA! Napoli are again dangerous in tight areas as Insigne brings the ball into the penalty area before squaring it to the edge of the six for Callejon. The striker turns and fires at the first time of asking – bringing a tremendous reaction save out of the goalkeeper!
17′ OFF THE POST! Insigne’s corner isn’t cleared well by the Milan defence, allowing the Napoli captain to recollect the ball and cut inside – squeezing a shot through the traffic that smacks the base of the post and goes wide!
15′ MERTENS COMES CLOSE! Unbelievable skill from the forward who makes Conti and Paqueta look foolish on his way to the byline, curling a shot that forces Donnarumma into full-stretch just to get it away for a corner.
13′ It’s a short free-kick routine from the training ground initiated by Insigne, but the designated final pass to Koulibaly is intercepted by the head of Romagnoli.
11′ Calhanoglu gives away a free-kick outside the Milan penalty area after going through the back of Zielinski to win the ball. It’s some way away from goal but with Ruiz and Insigne both dangerous from dead-ball situations – Donnarumma must remain vigilant.
G. Di Lorenzo
Yellow Card
9′ Di Lorenzo and Hernandez both slide in to win the loose ball, but the Napoli full-back is deemed the aggressor after crunching into his counterpart. It’s a yellow card for Di Lorenzo.
7′ Calhanoglu delivers a corner to the penalty spot, but the delivery is too high for the head of Romagnoli as Kessie is forced to exit the penalty area to regather possession.
5′ Mario Rui sends a long pass down the flank for Zielinski, but a backtracking Bennacer denies the Poland international space – winning it back on the edge of his penalty area.
3′ Milan have started the match tentatively in possession as Napoli come forward to press the Rossoneri deep in their own half. A side intent on passing it out from the back, they’ll have a difficult time working it around Gattuso’s industrious attacking trio.
1′ Napoli get the match underway from the kick-off!
Pioli makes a single change to the Milan XI that beat Juventus 4-2 on Tuesday, with Calhanoglu returning to the side, dropping Saelemaekers to the bench.
Napoli make five changes from their 2-1 win over Genoa in midweek. Gattuso rotates his goalkeepers as the experienced Ospina replaces Meret, while Koulibaly and Di Lorenzo retake their place in defence, sending Manolas and Hysaj to the bench. Zielinski is in for Elmas in midfield and the final switch comes in attack – where Politano is out for Callejon.
MILAN SUBS: Alexis Saelemaekers, Asmir Begovic, Giacomo Bonaventura, Diego Laxalt, Daniel Maldini, Lucas Biglia, Matteo Gabbia, Rade Krunic, Rafael Leao, Marco Brescianini, Davide Calabria, Matteo Soncin.
MILAN XI (4-2-3-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Andrea Conti, Simon Kjaer, Alessio Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Franck Kessie, Ismael Bennacer; Lucas Paqueta, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ante Rebic; Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
NAPOLI SUBS: Amin Younes, Eljif Elmas, Kostas Manolas, Sebastiano Luperto, Faouzi Ghoulam, Elseid Hysaj, Diego Demme, Arkadiusz Milik, Hirving Lozano, Alex Meret, Matteo Politano, Allan.
Napoli XI (4-3-3): David Ospina; Mario Rui, Kalidou Koulibaly, Nikola Maksimovic, Giovanni Di Lorenzo; Piotr Zielinski, Stanislav Lobotka, Fabian Ruiz; Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens, Jose Callejon.
With just over 10 minutes to go until kick-off, let’s look at the team news – starting with the hosts!
Milan have been in a great run of form that has seen them unbeaten in six matches, including back-to-back wins against Lazio and Juventus – scoring seven goals in the process. Their results have shot them up the table and given them a chance at Europe, as an away victory today would take the Rossoneri above their hosts in the table.
Gennaro Gattuso welcomes his former side to the Stadio San Paolo, but there will be little time for pleasantries as Napoli look to go level with fifth-place Roma and keep their hopes of Champions League football alive. Just two points ahead of the Rossoneri, the Partenopei are in an enviable place, having already secured Europa League football next season thanks to a Coppa Italia win.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Serie A fixture between Napoli and Milan!
A. Rebić
Assist