Napoli battles back from two goals down with a thrilling second-half performance against AC Milan
i

Napoli with a comeback against AC Milan || Credit: Imago

Napoli battles back from two goals down with a thrilling second-half performance against AC Milan

Stephen Oladehinde 22:46 - 29.10.2023

Napoli returned from two goals down to play a draw against AC Milan after an awful first-half performance.

Osimhen and Chukwueze were both missing for Napoli and AC Milan respectively after being left out due to injury.

Napoli, who struggled in the first half, started a comeback with the game ending in a 2-2 draw against AC Milan in a thrilling contest.

Two headed goals from Oliver Giroud gave AC Milan a comfortable lead in the first half but a rejuvenated Napoli side kick-started a comeback with Matteo Politano scoring the first goal and Giacomo Raspadori equalising.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ug/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

As it happened

Napoli manager Rudi Garcia made just one change to his side that defeated Union Berlin in the Champions League during the week, with Elmas replacing Jens Cajuste.

Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen missed out on the clash due to a thigh injury which will keep him out for a while.

AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli on the other hand also made just one change to his side that lost awfully to PSG in the Champions League.

Super Eagles winger Samuel Chuwkueze was also not available for Milan after picking up an injury.

The game started with Napoli dominating the possession and creating lots of chances in the attack, however, it was Milan that took the lead from their first attack of the game.

Christian Pulisic handed Olivier Giroud the simplest of tasks from close range after the cross evaded the keeper, and he made no mistake with his header into the back of the net.

It did not take long before the away side added the second goal to increase their lead against Napoli.

Davide Calabria picked out Olivier Giroud in the box with a decent cross and he headed the ball into the bottom left corner.

Milan looked more dangerous to get another goal and played comfortably till the halftime whistle was blown.

Napoli vs AC Milan Serie A clash || Credit: Imago
Napoli vs AC Milan Serie A clash || Credit: Imago

The second half started and Napoli got a goal back in the 50th minute to kickstart a possible comeback.

Matteo Politano slipped through inside the box to unleash a shot towards the net. He aimed perfectly and coolly fired it into the roof of the net.

Ten minutes later, Napoli got the equaliser when Giacomo Raspadori took a brilliant free-kick and curled the ball inside the right post to give the goalkeeper no chance.

Napoli secured a comeback and avoided a loss on their home ground with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.