Napoli Defeats AC Milan 2-1 in Serie A Clash: Rossoneri Struggle in Defense

Napoli proved to be a major obstacle for AC Milan in the 30th round of Serie A 2024/2025, securing a 2-1 victory at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. A lightning-fast goal from Matteo Politano in the second minute put Milan on the back foot early.

Romelu Lukaku then doubled the home side's lead in the 19th minute. Despite a late resurgence, Milan could only respond through Luka Jovic’s goal in the 84th minute, failing to salvage a point from the match.

Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/manchester-city-bournemouth-fa-cup-preview Defensive frailties were Milan’s downfall, with Kyle Walker struggling to maintain the defensive line, allowing Lukaku to score his second.

Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic also had a poor outing, losing crucial duels and frequently mispositioning themselves. In midfield, Tijjani Reijnders and Warren Bondo failed to control the tempo, making it easier for Napoli to dictate play.

Santiago Gimenez had a golden chance to reduce the deficit in the 67th minute but missed a penalty, adding to Milan’s frustrations.  

Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/juventus-appoints-igor-tudor-new-head-coach Rafael Leao and Samuel Chukwueze provided some spark in the second half, with Leao winning a penalty and assisting Jovic’s goal.

However, Joao Felix and Christian Pulisic were largely ineffective, leaving Milan without a consistent attacking threat. With this defeat, Milan must urgently address their issues in defense and midfield to stay competitive in the remaining fixtures of the season.