In the first of three matchups between Milan and Napoli this month, the defending Serie A champions routed this season’s runaway leaders 4-0 on Sunday ahead of two more clashes in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Rafael Leão scored twice and Brahim Diaz set up one goal and scored another on Sunday to hand Napoli their heaviest defeat of what otherwise has been an extraordinary season.
“We’re happy with the performance but it’s just one game,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli said.
“Tonight’s result has nothing to do with the Champions League games, because that’s a different competition. That will be a very balanced contest.”
Napoli’s only other losses in the Italian league this season both came by scores of 1-0, to Inter Milan in January and to Lazio a month ago.
Napoli were also beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the final match of the Champions League group phase but that loss came after the Partenopei had already clinched a spot in the round of 16.
Otherwise, Napoli’s only other defeat in 2022-23 came against Cremonese on penalties in the Italian Cup.
Milan moved up to third place, 20 points behind Napoli and four points behind Lazio.
Milan controlled from the start at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium and Diaz set up Milan’s early opener for Leão with a perfect through ball. Leão then did the rest by chipping in over Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret.
Diaz produced some more fireworks when he faked out Mario Rui to score with a deflection from close range in the 25th.
Leão fired in the third from a sharp angle near the hour mark after deceiving Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani and Alexis Saelemaekers weaved through Napoli’s defence less than 10 minutes later to complete the rout.
Milan host Napoli at the San Siro in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals in 10 days, then Napoli host the second leg six days later.
Napoli hope to have Serie A leading goal scorer Victor Osimhen, who is out with a leg muscle injury, back for those matches.
AAP
