Amidst the Serie A showdown, AC Milan faced off against Napoli, each competing for crucial points in Serie A. With Milan’s 1-0 victory, Hernández’s goal, and Pioli’s strategic finesse, the clash unfolded with statistical significance. Milan’s 52-point surge and defensive resilience underscored a compelling narrative for football enthusiasts.
Pre-Match
Press Conference
AC Milan, led by Stefano Pioli, prepares to host Napoli at San Siro in a crucial Serie A fixture. Pioli emphasizes the importance of focus, compactness, and quality against Napoli, acknowledging their formidable attacking prowess despite their current position in the table. The Rossoneri are buoyed by their positive run of results, aiming to maintain their unbeaten streak and secure a vital win at home.
Pioli’s squad is mentally and physically prepared, according to his words, benefiting from a week of training and recovery. Despite missing Reijnders due to suspension and several players sidelined with injuries, including Caldara, Kalulu, Pobega, and Tomori, AC Milan remains confident in their lineup. Pioli said:
“We are doing well mentally and physically, having free weeks has allowed us to work and recover well, arriving at the next fixture at our best.”
Notably, Bennacer is set to start, bolstering the midfield alongside other key players like Maignan and Giroud. Pioli also expresses pride in reaching a personal landmark, matching Arrigo Sacchi’s number of appearances in the Rossoneri dugout. With a focus on defensive improvement and offensive prowess, AC Milan is poised for a challenging yet promising encounter against Napoli.
Interesting Statistics
(For February 11th, 2024, before the game)
- AC Milan: 49 points from 23 matches, among their best performances at this stage in Serie A history (since the start of the three points-per-win era from 1994/95).
- Olivier Giroud: Scored five goals against Napoli since joining AC Milan, demonstrating his prowess against them.
- AC Milan: Leads in goals scored by substitutes this season, with ten goals.
- Stefano Pioli: Impressive record against Walter Mazzarri, with six wins in twelve encounters. The match with Napoli is Stefano Pioli’s 220th as Milan head coach. He equalled the legendary Arrigo Sacchi in this indicator.
- Current Serie A Table: Inter 60; Juventus 53; AC Milan 49; Napoli* 35. (* = one game in hand)
Matchday
Match Details
AC MILAN 1-0 NAPOLI – February 11th, 2024
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjær, Gabbia, Hernández; Bennacer, Adli; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leão; Giroud. Subs: Mirante, Sportiello; Florenzi, Jiménez, Simić, Terracciano; Musah, Victor; Jović, Okafor. Coach: Pioli.
NAPOLI (3-5-1-1): Gollini; Østigård, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus; Di Lorenzo, Anguissa, Lobotka, Zieliński, Mazzocchi; Kvaratskhelia; Simeone. Subs: Contini; Natan, Olivera; Cajuste, Dendoncker, Lindstrøm, Traorè; Ngonge, Politano, Raspadori. Coach: Mazzarri.
Referee: Doveri from Roma 1.
First Half
The match began intensely, with Napoli creating the first significant opportunity as Kvaratskhelia’s low cross found Simeone, who failed to convert from close range in the 10th minute. Both teams displayed a midfield battle, cancelling each other out. However, AC Milan broke the deadlock when Rafael Leão’s precise through ball found Theo Hernández, who slotted the ball past Gollini at his near post in the 25th minute. Leão continued to threaten with a curling right-footed effort, forcing Gollini into action in the 28th minute. AC Milan controlled possession and went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Second Half
The intensity persisted in the second half as Florenzi’s deflected strike almost caught Gollini off guard in the 47th minute. Simeone missed another chance to equalize for Napoli in the 54th minute, while Politano and Gabbia were involved in attempts for their respective teams. Napoli pressed for an equalizer, but Maignan thwarted Kvaratskhelia’s effort in the 68th minute. Leão missed a chance to extend AC Milan’s lead in the 70th minute, and Napoli came close to scoring an own goal when Simić diverted a Lindstrøm cross onto the post in the 89th minute. However, AC Milan held on for a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
Goals:
- AC MILAN: 25′ Hernández (M)
Booked:
- NAPOLI: 85′ Juan Jesus (N)
- AC MILAN: 90’+6 Hernández (M)
The match ended with AC Milan claiming a vital three points, breaking their home hoodoo against Napoli and extending their unbeaten run. Hernández’s first-half goal proved decisive, while Leão’s creativity and Gollini’s saves were notable highlights. This victory propels AC Milan to 52 points in the league, providing momentum ahead of their upcoming fixtures.
Post-Match Analysis
Press Conference
“We were not perfect, but we worked well.”
Stefano Pioli hailed AC Milan’s victory over Napoli as a testament to their recent form and determination. “We are doing well in the last month and a half, we are almost travelling at the very high pace of Inter. Inter are having an incredible season and we are trying to try to win every match from here to the end, we will see what we can do,” Pioli stated, acknowledging the team’s eight-point gap from the top.
Reflecting on their defensive improvements, Pioli added, “We were not perfect, but we worked well,” emphasizing the importance of the win. He also addressed concerns about injuries, saying that Ismaël Bennacer and Davide Calabria have only minor issues and fans will see them soon.
Statistical Highlights
- Possession: AC Milan 40% – 60% Napoli
- Shots: AC Milan 10 – 12 Napoli
- Shots on target: AC Milan 6 – 2 Napoli
- Offsides: AC Milan 3 – 1 Napoli
MVP – Theo Hernández
Theo Hernández was chosen as the game’s MVP, showcasing his dynamic presence on the field. With his winning goal, Hernández continued his impressive run, earning his third MVP award of the year. His statistics speak volumes: Three MVP awards in 2024, solidifying his status as a key player. Hernández’s leadership, coupled with his standout performance, underscores his indispensable role in AC Milan’s campaign.
You can watch the match highlights below:
