AC Milan and Napoli won one point in a match that took place at the San Siro Stadium, Milan, Saturday (26/1). Here’s an interesting fact from the match.
Milan and Napoli play fairly balanced in the Week 21 match in the Italian League 2018/2019. Exchanging ball possession and attacks, both teams were unable to score.
Napoli became the first stronghold to score a chance. In the sixth minute, a combination of Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens was stopped by Spry Gianluigi Donnarumma. Milan replied via Patick Cutrone in the eleventh minute. However, Cutrone’s strike which utilizes Hakan Calhanoglu’s pass only hit the outside of the net.
Both teams played pretty neat and full of coordination. Even the possession of the ball tends to be balanced until the first 30 minutes, but the Rossonerri and I Partenopei did not succeed in creating a golden opportunity. The efforts of Napoli to dismantle the home defense had once again produced opportunities through Piotr Zielinski and Callejon in one minute, precisely in the 37th minute.
Three minutes later Suso’s turn almost made Milan supporters cheer, but the completion finally widened. After halftime, Milan again presents a threat through Franck Kessie who is still capable of being blocked by Kevin Malcuit. Donnarumma had an important role in keeping the Milan goalkeeper clean of a goal through a save which was made possible by the opportunities obtained by Arkadiusz Milik and Zielinski midway through the second half.
Krzysztof Piatek made his debut for Milan in the 72nd minute replacing Cutrone. Four minutes later Piatek opened fire which was thwarted by Kalidou Koulibaly. In the final ten minutes of the match, Napoli failed to score after several times penetrating the Milan defense through Simone Verdi and Callejon. In the extra time of the second half Napoli had to play with ten people because Fabian Ruiz received a second yellow card for doing handsball. Until referee Daniele Doveri dissolved the match, the score 0-0 still remained on the scoreboard.
The arrival of fertile striker Krzysztof Piatek from Genoa was unable to make Milan score. While the Napoli bomber, Arkadiusz Milik was also unable to break into Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal.
An additional point is only enough for Napoli to stay second, but unable to catch up with Juventus who are top of the table. While Milan is threatened to drop ranks from the top four if AS Roma wins the match against Atalanta on Sunday (1/27).
The following are interesting facts drawn by Milan and Napoli reported by Opta.
1. AC Milan failed to score in three of the last four home games. Previously Milan were held to a Torino draw without a goal, losing 0-1 to Fiorentina, and winning 2-1 over SPAL.
2. AC Milan can only score one goal in four home matches against Napoli in Serie A.
3. The average age of Milan players who appear as core players is 23 years and 236 days. Recorded as AC Milan’s youngest squad in Serie A since August 2017 against Crotone.
4. Napoli drew 0-0 in three of the last four games at the San Siro, both against AC Milan and Inter Milan.
5. Napoli have not scored in two away matches in the Italian League for the first time after October 2016.
6. There were 11 shots on goal in this match. Between matches that ended without goals, this match was the second most shot on goal after the match Frosinone and AC Milan produced 12 shots.
7. Piotr Zielinski was involved in eight of 14 Napoli shots, five shots and creating three chances.
