Maybe the race for the Scudetto is over, but the one for the Champions League has just started tonight, Milan is back in the game after an unlikey victory. Tonight, in the first of three matches against Napoletana this spring, the Rossoneri inflicted a real debacle on the future champion of Italy, outclassed him and scared him before the double-header in the quarter-finals of the Champions League – a brutal 4:0!AC Milan cruise past Napoli 😱They meet again next week in the UCL quarterfinals 👀 pic.twitter.com/Xor3k1cTg0— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 2, 2023 Luciano Spalletti’s team received a ‘slap in the face’ that could seriously affect his confidence or take a lesson from it. This defeat for Napoli may be more painless than some in the Champions League quarter-final matches. Napoli’s points stock in Serie A is huge and from that angle, this is not an alarming defeat. But from a psychological point of view, before a double-header in the Champions League, it can also be devastating. After a bad series of results before the representative break, Milan made a completely reset and taught Napoli a tough lesson. The worst part is – Rossoneri could have celebrated more convincingly. And in addition to that psychological advantage ahead of the Champions League, the points meant a lot to Milan tonight, because they made a big step towards the Champions League.Brahim Diaz x Rafael Leao 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6eFJFAaJDx— AC Milan – FR (@AC_MilanFR) April 2, 2023 And finally, perhaps the most important thing for Milan in tonight’s victory – Rafa Leao woke up. And when the moody Portuguese is in this form, he is no less powerful and convincing than the all-powerful Hvicha Cavarchelia, who threw Italy under their feet this season, but was invisible tonight. Napoli can look for excuses in the injury of Viktor Osimhen and the boycott of the home fans. Not playing with the first scorer and the absence of the traditionally hellish atmosphere are surely serious blows, but Milan coach Stefano Pioli tonight showed his tactical knowledge. This victory is his coaching signature. He strengthened the midfield with his favorite soldier, Rade Krunić, who, along with Tonali and Benaser, won the key battle in the middle of the field with the Neapolitans, and Leao and Diaz played like reborn forwards.Iberian excellence 🇪🇸🤝🇵🇹#NapoliMilan #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/wC1Wtp7xOb— AC Milan (@acmilan) April 2, 2023 From the beginning, Milan was better, more aggressive, more concrete… And you could see from Diaz and Leao that they are extremely motivated. After 17 minutes, they turned it into concrete evidence when the Portuguese scored. In the 25th minute, it was already 2:0. Leao widened the defense of the home team with a quick step, and Diaz waited for Benaser’s cross, sold a great fake and doubled the advantage. Milan continued to ‘dance’, Maignan saved the powerful shots of Lobotka and Zelinski and brought additional nervousness and uncertainty to the ranks of the home team. AC MILAN DESTROYS NAPOLI AND MAKES IT FOUR!!! pic.twitter.com/HDiKQPQvwR— Mikael Madridista (@MikaelMadridsta) April 2, 2023 Just when the Neapolitans came to their senses and started to press at the beginning of the second half, Milan knocked them out. Tonali won the ball in the middle and launched a pass to Leao on the counter attack. And when he’s in the mood like he was tonight, the controversial Portuguese is unstoppable. He ‘broke’ the unfortunate Rahmani and scored for 3:0. It didn’t end there either. After only 10 minutes on the field, reserve Salemakers signed a total debacle for the Neapolitans and a great victory for the Rossoneri. Milan could have celebrated more convincingly until the end, they had a chance to do so, but Napoli somehow escaped a real disaster. The Rossoneri played perhaps the match of the season, and the moment could not have been better. More important battles against the Neapolitans in the Champions League will follow.SERIE A – ROUND 28SaturdayCremonese – Atalanta 1-3 (0-1)/Ciofani 56 pen – De Roon 44, Boga 72, Lookman 90+3/Inter – Fiorentina 0-1 (0-0)/Bonaventura 53/Juventus – Verona 1-0 (0-0)/Kean 56/SundayBologna – Udinese 3-0 (2-0)/Posch 3, Moro 12, Barrow 49/Monza – Lazio 0-2 (0-1)/Pedro 16, Milinkovic-Savic 56/Spezia – Salernitana 1-1 (0-1)/Shomuordov 70 – Caldara 43og/Roma – Sampdoria 3-0 (0-0)/Wijnaldum 57, Dybala (p) 88, El Sharaawy 90+4/Napoli- Milan 0-4 (0-2)/Leao 17, 59, Diaz 25, Saelemeakers 67/Monday19:30: (2.45) Empoli (3.15) Lecce (3.35)21:45: (2.45) Sassuolo (3.20) Torino (3.00)***odds are subject to change***
