With goals from Francesco Gioielli and Alessandro Spavone, Napoli seemed to be coasting to a victory over Milan. However, the Azzurri conceded twice in the second half, including a 97th minute equalizer in the 2-2 draw.
Lineup
Nicolò Frustalupi made four changes to the squad he fielded in Napoli’s previous match, which was against Sampdoria on November 13, 2022. With Daniel Hysaj not available, Frustalupi started Luigi D’Avino in the back three. The Napoli coach changed both of his wingbacks, starting Matteo Marchisano over Davide Acampa on the left and Enrico Giannini over Lamine Gningue on the right. With Pasquale Maranzino also not available, Frustalupi shifted Gennaro Iaccarino forward to trequartista and played Jorge Alastuey alongside Gioielli in the centre of the midfield.
(3-4-2-1): Boffelli; Barba (C), D’Avino, Obaretin; Marchisano, Alastuey, Gioielli, Giannini; Spavone, Iaccarino; Rossi
Match
Milan started the match well, creating two quality chances in the opening ten minutes. The first resulted from a wayward pass by Francesco Gioielli, straight to Filippo Scotti in the middle of the mark. The Rossonero winger carried the ball into the area and dribbled around Nosa Obaretin before going for goal. Valerio Boffelli was quick off his line to make an important save.
Scotti got the better of Obaretin again in the tenth minute. Once again he dribbled to the right of the central defender before going for goal. Though Boffelli’s second save was less convincing than his first, the Napoli goalkeeper did just enough to keep the ball out.
The Azzurrini responded well to Milan’s early chances. Frustalupi’s boys appeared to benefit from the winter break. They played full of energy, seemingly winning every ball while marking tight and using the press to force Milan into making mistakes.
Midway through the half, Gioielli more than atoned for his earlier error, after Alessandro Spavone was rewarded for his hustle with a Napoli a free kick on the right side of the midfield. Gennaro Iaccarino and Jorge Alastuey stood over the ball, but it was the Italian who played an in-swinging cross into the area. Milan cleared the danger, but only momentarily. Spavone was first to the second ball, flicking a header back to Alastuey at the edge of the area. He lobbed the ball back into the area for Gioielli to smash a header down and into the bottom corner. The Napoli midfielder, who scored his fifth of the season, got incredible power on the header considering the lack of pace on the cross.
Milan regained control after the goal and pushed forward for the equalizer. For the second time in the match, the Rossoneri created two chances in quick succession. In the 34th minute, left back Davide Bartesaghi played a throw-in to Antonio Gala in the area. With his back to goal, the midfielder turned towards the byline before playing a pass that flashed across the face of the goal. Milan captain Youns El Hilali met the ball with a volley at the second post, but Boffelli was well-positioned to make the save.
A minute later, central defender Dorian Paloschi passed to Gala outside the Napoli area. The Milan No. 8 made another clever turn, this time toward the middle of the park to get past Benedetto Barba, who elected not to commit a foul. Gala went for goal with a right-footed strike from 20 yards out. The ball seemed destined for the bottom corner but Boffelli did really well, diving to his left to push the shot out for a corner kick.
The second half could not have started any better. Spavone doubled Napoli’s lead with a brilliant individual effort. The trequartista dispossessed centre back Jan-Carlo Simic in the Milan area. He then spun past Paloschi before blasting the ball into the bottom corner.
Like in the first half, Milan responded well. Napoli were somewhat unfortunate when Milan pulled one back in the 57th minute. The Azzurrini were playing temporarily with ten men while Marchisano was receiving treatment on the touchline. Right back Adam Bakoune crossed the ball into the area. Boffelli attacked the ball but Gala got there first, heading in his first of the season.
The goal invigorated Milan, who controlled the run of play for the balance of the match. Substitute Gabriele Alesi came close in the 64th minute after chasing the ball down on the left wing, but his tiragiro finished over the bar.
Paloschi came close to equalizing six minutes later from a Milan corner kick. Alesi played an in-swinger to the first post, where Gala flicked the ball onward. Paloschi won the header in front of the goal but got under the ball, which finished well over the bar.
Napoli resisted well and the job appeared to be done when the Azzurrini were awarded a free kick after a head-to-head collision between Boffelli and Bob Murphy Omoregbe in the Napoli area. After play resumed in the 97th minute, Barba took the free kick long, which Milan won at midfield. Alastuey had an opportunity to send the ball long and potentially end the match. Instead, he played it straight to Alesi and Milan immediately countered. Alesi passed to El Hilali on his left. The striker took a touch, set his feet and blasted the ball into the top corner from just outside the area.
That was the final kick of the match, which ended 2-2. With the draw, Napoli remained one position clear of the relegation playout zone. However, Inter have a game in hand. With a win over Empoli, Inter would overtake Napoli in the table.
