**Serie A: Milan-Napoli 0-2, Pagelle: Lukaku E Kvaratskhelia Decisivi**

Zacong

You need 4 min read

·

Post on Oct 30, 2024

71 visitor like this post

Share

Milan-Napoli 0-2: Lukaku and Kvaratskhelia Shine in Dominant Away Win

The San Siro was witness to a captivating Serie A clash as Napoli stormed past AC Milan with a convincing 2-0 victory. Two goals in the first half, courtesy of Romelu Lukaku and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, sealed the deal for Luciano Spalletti's men, who cemented their position at the top of the table.

Napoli Dominates the First Half

From the first whistle, Napoli asserted their dominance, dictating the tempo and creating numerous scoring opportunities. The first goal arrived in the 10th minute when Lukaku, making his first start since joining on loan from Chelsea, coolly slotted the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The lead was doubled in the 45th minute, thanks to Kvaratskhelia's brilliance. The Georgian winger, a constant thorn in Milan's side, picked up the ball on the left flank, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful shot that found the back of the net.

Milan Struggles to Find a Foothold

Despite the home advantage, Milan struggled to find their rhythm, failing to create any real threat on the Napoli goal. The Rossoneri's midfield was overwhelmed by the relentless pressing of Napoli, and their attack looked toothless without the injured Rafael Leao.

Second Half: Napoli Controls the Game

The second half saw Napoli maintain their control of the game, keeping Milan at bay with their superior passing, movement, and defensive solidity. Even with substitutions, Milan failed to find the spark they needed to mount a comeback.

Key Players: Lukaku and Kvaratskhelia Shine

Lukaku's impact was immediate and decisive, demonstrating his clinical finishing and physical presence. His performance served as a timely reminder of his class and his ability to lead the line.

Kvaratskhelia, meanwhile, continued his impressive start to the season, showcasing his exceptional dribbling skills, creativity, and finishing ability. He was a constant threat throughout the game and earned the Man of the Match award.

Napoli's Dominance Continues

The win extends Napoli's unbeaten start to the season, solidifying their position as the frontrunners in the Serie A title race. Their performance against Milan was a statement of their intent, showcasing their strength, depth, and tactical flexibility.

Milan's Stumbling Block

Milan, on the other hand, face a challenging task to maintain their pace with Napoli. Their struggles to find their rhythm and create chances against a strong opponent will need to be addressed if they are to stay in contention for the title.

The result leaves Napoli 5 points clear at the top of the table, a significant advantage as they prepare for a busy week ahead.

Here are the player ratings for the match:

Milan:

• Donnarumma (6): Made a couple of decent saves but couldn't prevent the goals.
• Thiaw (6): Solid performance, but struggled to cope with Napoli's attacking threat.
• Tomori (6): Another solid display, but lacked support from his midfielders.
• Theo Hernandez (5): Quiet game, largely ineffective going forward.
• Reijnders (5): Struggled to control the midfield and provide support to the forwards.
• Krunic (5): Similar to Reijnders, lacked the necessary influence in midfield.
• Calabria (5): Defensively competent but offered little going forward.
• Pulisic (5): Disappointing performance, failed to make a real impact.
• Giroud (5): Isolated and ineffective against Napoli's solid defense.
• Chukwueze (6): Showed some promising moments but lacked the consistency to change the game.
• De Ketelaere (6): Came on late and tried to inject some energy into the attack but it was too late.

Napoli:

• Meret (7): Had little to do but commanded his box well.
• Di Lorenzo (7): Solid defensively and offered a good outlet going forward.
• Kim Min-jae (7): Dominating performance in defense, a wall against Milan's attacks.
• Rrahmani (7): Another strong display, solidifying the defense.
• Olivera (7): Solid defensive performance and provided some dangerous crosses.
• Lobotka (8): Dictated the tempo of the game, controlled the midfield with his passing and vision.
• Anguissa (8): Energetic and combative, a key figure in Napoli's midfield dominance.
• Politano (7): Threatening throughout the game, caused constant problems for Milan's defense.
• Kvaratskhelia (9): Man of the Match, his pace, creativity, and goal were decisive.
• Lukaku (8): Clinical finishing and a strong presence, provided the perfect start for his Napoli career.
• Osimhen (7): Came on in the second half and provided another attacking threat.

Overall, Napoli's victory was a deserved one, showcasing their quality and dominance. They look set for a successful season, while Milan face a significant challenge to keep pace with their rivals.