SERIE A: Napoli 0 – 1 Milan – Giroud decides Scudetto showdown

Olivier Giroud redirected a wayward Davide Calabria effort to give Milan a huge victory away to Napoli in the Scudetto race, putting the Rossoneri clear at the top.

By Susy Campanale

This was a head-to-head between the sides who were joint leaders going into this round, though Inter had already leapfrogged them both by beating Salernitana 5-0. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hirving Lozano were back on the bench after long injury lay-offs, with Kevin Malcuit, Axel Tuanzebe, Alessio Romagnoli, Simon Kjaer and Tiemoue Bakayoko out of action. Franck Kessie was moved into a more advanced role and Stanislav Lobotka made his comeback.

Napoli 0-1 Milan | Giroud once again decisive for the Rossoneri | Serie A 2021/22

The Frenchman continues to impress in his maiden Serie A season and after his exploits in the Milanese derby he nets another huge goal to seal a crucial win for the Rossoneri over Napoli | Serie A 2021/22 This is the official channel for the Serie A, providing all the latest highlights, interviews, news and features to keep you up to date with all things Italian football.

Ismael Bennacer had early penalty appeals, but Kalidou Koulibaly was clearly trying to get out of the way. Napoli too called for VAR after an ill-advised Fikayo Tomori challenge on Osimhen at the by-line.

David Ospina made a sensational reaction save on the Junior Messias header from a Sandro Tonali corner, but the referee stopped play for a foul.

Koulibaly was booked for catching the back of Giroud’s ankle and did real damage, as the Milan striker was bleeding badly from that cut.

Leao tested Ospina from distance, but the deadlock was broken straight after the restart. A free kick was not cleared properly and Davide Calabria’s attempt was woeful, but so poor that it turned into an accidental assist for Giroud to redirect into the net with the inside of the boot.

Osimhen fired straight at Mike Maignan after a give-and-go with Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leao’s deflected strike also went into the arms of Ospina.

The Napoli goalkeeper got down to palm a Bennacer curler round the far bottom corner from the edge of the box, while Adam Ounas hit a curler just wide of the far post.

Chucky Lozano drilled off target and Osimhen forced a Maignan save at the base of the near post, but Theo Hernandez sprinted away from Koulibaly and stung Ospina’s gloves at the other end.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his comeback with the first appearance since January after an Achilles tendon issue.

Deep into stoppages, Theo Hernandez on the counter rolled across for Alexis Saelemaekers unmarked, but Ospina fingertipped it over the bar.

This article originally appeared in Football Italia