He is definitely the man of the big meetings in this title race in Serie A. A month after a double to offer the derby to AC Milan, Olivier Giroud did it again this Sunday in Naples (0-1). A fox goal, the only one of a padlocked shock which allows the Rossoneri to seize the place of leader, two points in front of Inter with a game more. Disappointing in front of their public, the Neapolitans suffer their first defeat in 2022 in the league and carry out the bad operation of the weekend.
A new holder despite the return to the group of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Giroud first experienced a delicate first period. In a closed match, the French international had very few balls to play. When this was the case, he was marked in the pants by Kalidou Koulibaly, who also crushed his ankle and received a yellow card (24th). We thought for a moment that he was going to have to leave but despite a big gash, the former Montpellier player resumed play.
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An opportunity, a goal: Giroud, lethal efficiency
On his only occasion of the meeting, the Milan striker made the powder speak. On a completely missed shot from Calabria, his science of placement in the area allowed him to deflect the ball with the tip of his left foot and deceive Ospina (0-1, 49th).
An eighth goal of the season in Serie A capital. Grimacing, Giroud had to give way to Ante Rebic to the applause of a delighted Ibrahimovic (68th). Because the Milan has finally never really trembled because of a Naples passed through his meeting. Victor Osimhen, too isolated, struggled well but he only had one opportunity: a shot from a very tight angle, well read by Mike Maignan (86th). That was about it for Luciano Spalletti’s men, perhaps tense by the stakes.
Without achieving a dazzling game, AC Milan can be very satisfied with this important success: Giroud scored, Ibrahimovic returned for a few minutes and the schedule to come – next five games against teams from the second part of the table – may allow the Rossoneri to dream a little more of a first Scudetto since 2011.
Victor Osimhen (Naples) and Pierre Kalulu (AC Milan)
Credit: Getty Images
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