Serie A: AC Milan 3:0 Napoli
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Source: Football Italia

Scorers: Ibrahimovic pen 48 (M), Boateng 77 (M), Pato 79 (M)

Milan took a step closer to the Scudetto after beating title rivals Napoli 3-0 at the Giuseppe Meazza. Three second half goals ensured that the Rossoneri took the points that their performance deserved against a disappointing Neapolitan side.

A contested penalty converted by Zlatan Ibrahimovic set the Milanese giants on their way, before Kevin-Prince Boateng and a lively Alexandre Pto completed the scoring. The Rossoneri thus increase their lead at the top over Inter to five points and six clear of tonight’s beaten opponents.

Napoli, without the suspended Ezequiel Lavezzi, started the game just a win away from joining Milan at the summit of the table. However, coming away from the Meazza was clearly going to be no easy task as the Azzurri had not won at San Siro in the League since Bruno Giordano and Diego Maradona scored in a 2-1 victory back in April 1986.

The first half was a tense and nervous affair, with Napoli looking nothing like the revelation side they have been so far this term. Giuseppe Mascara struggled to fill in for Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani was virtually anonymous and Hugo Campagnaro was one of numerous players who misplaced passes on the wet surface.

Milan, who opted to leave Antonio Cassano on the bench, fielded a powerful midfield of Mathieu Flamini, Gennaro Gattuso and Mark Van Bommel to balance the fantasy of their Ibrahimovic, Pato and Robinho trident. Marek Jankulovski began at left-back for his first start in 29 Serie A ties.

The Rossoneri were the better side in the first 45 minutes but created few clear cut opportunities to break the deadlock. Ibrahimovic wasted a good chance on 17 minutes when his shot lacked precision rather than power.

Gattuso also blasted over soon after before Mark Van Bommel was denied. The January signing from Bayern Munich found himself in a great scoring position from inside the box, but his effort was superbly blocked by Salvatore Aronica.

There was also a late scare for Napoli when a Morgan De Sanctis error saw Pato beat him, but his shot was weak and easily dealt with by Andrea Dossena in the six-yard box. The first half ended 0-0 with neither ‘keeper being forced to make a notable save.

Sensing that Napoli were there for the taking, Milan wasted no time in upping the tempo after the half-time oranges. After Van Bommel forced De Sanctis into a finger-tip save, the resulting corner saw Napoli gift the hosts a penalty when Aronica handled. Napoli protested, but the defender’s raised arm did touch the ball. Ibrahimovic slotted home to the ‘keeper’s bottom right with ease. 1-0.

Napoli were on the ropes and had De Sanctis to thank for keeping them in the game. On 55 minutes he got down to palm away a wonderful Pato curler from the edge of the box. The Italian international then denied Robinho from close range after a neat cut-back from Pato.

That was the last telling contribution from Robinho as he was replaced by Boateng who has spent recent weeks struggling with injury. Mazzarri responded by benching the ineffective Mascara with Juan Zuniga.

It was the Milan midfielder, rather than the Colombian, who made an almost instant impact. Pato stretched the Azzurri rearguard with his pace, he then slowed it right down as he entered the box before playing in Boateng who slotted home from close range. 2-0.

Napoli had barely caught their breath before Pato’s pace again wreaked havoc. Running in between two Azzurri defenders, he opted against assisting Ibra by instead shooting over De Sanctis from the edge of the box.

Mazzarri made some late changes but little changed for a San Paolo outfit who looked nothing like Scudetto challengers. Napoli are next in action against Brescia, while Milan travel to crisis-hit Juventus on Saturday.

Milan: Abbiati; Abate (Oddo 81), Nesta, Thiago Silva, Jankulovski (Emanuelson 72); Gattuso, Van Bommel, Flamini; Robinho (Boateng 63); Ibrahimovic, Pato

Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio (Sosa 79), Pazienza, Gargano (Yebda 85), Dossena; Mascara (Zuniga 65), Hamsik; Cavani

Ref: Rocchi

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