Napoli Secures Spot in Super Cup Final with 2-0 Win Over Milan
Napoli has eliminated title holders Milan from the Super Cup, a trophy that the Italian champions will contest against Inter or Bologna on Monday. The Italian team won 2-0 thanks to goals from Neres in the first half and in the second half from Hojlund, Antonio Conte’s extra weapon, who took revenge after the defeat in the championship, as well as giving an important signal also in terms of the championship, leaving behind the defeats against Benfica and Udinese.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan tried to push forward, but the lack of offensive potential once again took its toll, canceling their second goal of the season after their exit from the Italian Cup. The lineups deployed are far from the best possible, due to injuries and the need to take into account the hypothetical double close match. According to reports, Conte proposed an aggressive Napoli, with the trident formed by Neres, Elmas, and Hojlund, supported by Politano and Spinazzola on the midfield flanks manned by Lobotka and the raider McTominay.
First Half Highlights
With Gabbia unavailable and replaced by De Winter, an absence that proved to be serious, Allegri chose not to risk Leao, left in the stands, relying on Pulisic and Nkunku, once again inconsistent. Modric is on the bench, with Bartesaghi and Fofana, space for Jashari, Estupinan, and Loftus-Cheek. The Azzurri started by pressing high, but it is Milan who finds some counter-moves with an insistent ball movement in search of an opening towards the goal. After an attempt from outside the area by Elmas, the first danger comes from a turn by Pavlovic who puts Loftus Cheek in front of Milinkovic, but his extended touch is weak and the goalkeeper has no problems.
Then he tries, but shoots high, Saelemakers who after the half hour is launched into the open field by Pulisic, catches Nkunku inside the area, whose conclusion is still high. Napoli, very dense in defense of their own area, often lacks precision going forward but responds as best as possible to the danger faced by finding the advantage in the 39th minute: Hojlund works a ball into the area and his low cross is only touched by Maignan, Neres is lurking and puts the ball into the goal to make it 1-0.
Second Half and Final Outcome
No changes at half-time while the atmosphere on the pitch warms up due to a slap to Politano by Maignan, who shortly before saves the goal again on a shot from the edge of Rrahmani. Milan tries to push but the ball movement is slow, Pulisic and Nkunku are suffocated in the blue grip, a problem that Hojlund doesn’t notice, doing well in the 19th minute to avoid De Winter once again and pierce Maignan, still not perfect, scoring the 2-0. Allegri takes away a struggling De Winter and the uninspired Saelemakers for Athekame and Fofana, then he also plays the Modric card, Jashari comes out, but Napoli are in their comfort zone and risk nothing in the rest of the match, against a team forced to play at a slow pace and without ideas, leaving Milinkovic-Savic completely inactive.
Milan thus abandons the Super Cup in Riyadh, which perhaps they will see again from above at the beginning of February when they will have to fly to Perth for the championship match against Como which has had the definitive green light. Napoli stays in Arabia, showing their muscles. For more information on the Super Cup and the latest football news, visit Here