If this was simply the antipasto, Napoli must be involved about what AC Milan will serve up for the primary course.
Within the first of three matchups between Milan and Napoli this month, the defending Serie A champions routed this season’s runaway leaders 4-Zero on Sunday forward of two extra clashes within the Champions League quarter-finals.
Rafael Leao scored twice and Brahim Diaz arrange one aim and scored one other on Sunday handy Napoli their heaviest defeat of what in any other case has been a unprecedented season.
“We’re proud of the efficiency nevertheless it’s only one sport,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli mentioned. “Tonight’s consequence has nothing to do with the Champions League video games, as a result of that is a special competitors. That shall be a really balanced contest.”
Napoli’s solely different losses within the Italian league this season each got here by scores of 1-0, to Inter Milan in January and to Lazio a month in the past.
Napoli have been additionally overwhelmed 2-Zero by Liverpool within the closing match of the Champions League group part however that loss got here after the Partenopei had already clinched a spot within the spherical of 16.
In any other case, Napoli’s solely different defeat in 2022-23 got here in opposition to Cremonese on penalties within the Italian Cup.
Milan moved as much as third place, 20 factors behind Napoli and 4 factors behind Lazio.
Milan managed from the beginning on the Diego Armando Maradona stadium and Diaz arrange Milan’s early opener for Leao with an ideal by way of ball. Leao then did the remaining by chipping in over Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret.
Diaz produced some extra fireworks when he faked out Mario Rui to attain with a deflection from shut vary within the 25th.
Leao fired within the third from a pointy angle close to the hour mark after deceiving Napoli defender Amir Rrahmani and Alexis Saelemaekers weaved by way of Napoli’s protection lower than 10 minutes later to finish the rout.
Milan hosts Napoli on the San Siro within the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals in 10 days, then Napoli hosts the second leg six days later.
Napoli hope to have Serie A scoring chief Victor Osimhen (leg muscle) again for these matches.
Lazio tightened their grip on second place with a 2-Zero win at Monza.
Having overwhelmed Napoli and Roma within the derby earlier than the worldwide break, Lazio prolonged their unbeaten streak within the Italian league to 6 matches.
A free kick from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic after the break adopted an early aim from Pedro for Lazio.
Georginio Wijnaldum scored one aim and earned a penalty that Paulo Dybala transformed as Roma beat 10-man Sampdoria 3-Zero to maneuver stage on factors with fourth-place Inter Milan.
The entire targets got here after Sampdoria defender Jeison Murillo was despatched off for 2 yellow playing cards early within the second half.
Wijnaldum opened the scoring with a header then Stephan El Shaarawy sealed it from the sting of the realm after Dybala’s penalty.
Bologna continued to impress with a 3-Zero win over Udinese to maneuver as much as eighth as Stefan Posch, Nikola Moro and Musa Barrow scored.
Salernitana drew 1-1 at Spezia.
