Milan vs Napoli: Live blog! Follow along with us as the action unfolds

LINEUPS

FORM

Milan: W/W/L/D/D

No Aleesio Romagnoli or Leonardo Bonucci? No problem!

Actually, it probably is. What was an immense start to 2018 has dissipated to a stunning loss to Juventus, followed by draws to Inter in the derby, and Sassuolo at home. Our Champions League hopes all but extinguished. Now, Gattuso remains optimistic and tenacious, yet, the reality of not having our starting center backs doesn’t bode well against a top side like Napoli.

Napoli: L/D/W/D/W

Are you excited to see Lorenze Insigne up against a Bonucci and Romagnoli-less back line? No? Weird...

Raul Albiol and Jorginho will be back from suspension and will start, while Mario Rui will watch from the stands.

Napoli will be looking to catch up to Juventus with only seven matches remaining, and behind by four points.

PREDICTION

2-1 Milan

I’m not sure why but I just have a feeling this is a match Milan will win. The reverse fixture saw Napoli steal one out, and I feel at home, we will have a chance to do the same. Gennaro Gattuso is every hopeful, so I remain. Even without our star center backs, we put on an offensive show with Suso and Hakan leading the way.

MATCH INFO

When: Sunday, April 8th, 2018

Where: San Siro, Milan, Italy

Kickoff time: 2:00 p.m. local time in Italy; 1:00 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast; 6:00 a.m. on the West Coast

HOW TO WATCH

The match will be broadcast all over the world, with most local carriers of Italian Serie A carrying this match. In the United States, this means that the match will be shown on beIN Sports and beIN Sports en Español and streamed on beIN Sports Connect. The match is also available on beIN Sports Connect & beIN Sports en Español in Canada ESPN Caribbean has the match in most of the Caribbean, and in Mexico, the match is available on ESPN Norte. In the Middle East, the match will be shown on beIN Sports 4 HD and streamed on beIN Sports Connect.

If you don’t see a listing here for where you’re planning on watching the match, head over to livesoccertv to find out more information.

Television: RAI Italia America (United States); RAI Italia America (Canada); BT Sport 2 (United Kingdom); Sky Supercalcio HD, Sky Sport 1 HD Italia, Sky Calcio 1, PremiumSport HD (Italy)

Online/Mobile: beIN SPORTS CONNECT, fuboTV (United States); DAZN Canada, beIN SPORTS CONNECT Canada (Canada); BT Sport Live (United Kingdom); Premium Play, SKY Go Italia (Italy)

LIVE BLOG

5’

I can’t be the only one who can’t stand BeIN Sports live streaming service, yeah?

15’

I’m back in through... alternative means. It’s fuzzy, probably very delayed, but here I am.

20’

I don’t know if it’s just the last few minutes, but Zapata looks a bit shaky. Napoli really pushing now, driving the offensive point home. The high press looks a bit dangerous but Milan seems okay in dealing with it.

25’

Great ball from Suso to catch Kessie out wide, but he loses it all too easily. Shades of Sassuolo. Say what you want about Kalinic, but he’s been pretty good this game. I’d rather see Silva but he’s making some nice runs. Milan asking the right questions.

30’

I missed watching Suso and Calabria on the wing working together. Kalinic finds himself in another excellent position to square a well placed cross, but Napoli does well to close in. Milan have been aggressive moving forward but Napoli has been eating up possession. There seems to be more purpose in their movement forward.

35’

Just thinking back to the number of missed chances so far for Milan. Napoli conceded their goals mostly in the first half so far this year, I hope we didn’t miss the boat. It hasn’t been super pretty but shout out to Zapata and Musacchio so far. Kessie, defensively, has been very good as well.

As I typed that, Insigne just danced into the box and put up a curler that almost found the back of the net. Milan lucky there.

40’

Napoli looking at 60% possession, which is fine, since they haven’t done much with it. Milan with a corner that deflects to Hakan’s foot, who squares a terrifying ball that finds Reina but he can’t hold on, Musacchio squares it into the net, but is offside. The chances continue to be squandered. The good news is Napoli hasn’t been able to do much either with their chances.

45’ (Halftime)

Kessie has been great defensively, but moving forward his passing has been very poor. If he’s going to be the center of our offensive drive, he needs to be better there. Not a bad first half for Milan, but so many wasted chances again. We’re seeing the same team we saw against Juventus, Sassuolo, and Arsenal. Napoli won’t continue to miss their chances.

50’

Hamsik with the first real chance of the second half as his run behind the back line makes for too much of an acute angle to put away. Milan can’t seem to clear the ball away from Napoli’s attacks here in the opening five.

55’

Milan finally push forward, Kessie putting the ball at Suso’s feet from 20 yards out, but he skies is poorly over the net. Other options there, but Suso goes for glory.

Kessie, a few seconds later, fields an overhead ball into the box, but goes down way too easily, clearly looking for the pen. There won’t be any easy goals today, lad.

Zapata absolutely destroys Maggia by running into him like a freight train. Yellow there, clearly.

60’

Napoli with the corner, but Donnarumma does well to dive onto the loose ball, Milan now finally stringing some passes together.

How good is Koulibaby? What a force. Kalinic was started to ‘match’ (lol) his physicality but he’s just silenced the striker since the opening 15 minutes. Andre Silva appearance inbound...

65’

Milan wins the free kick about 40 yards outside the net, Napoli putting in a high line. Nothing there.

It’s funny, Hakan and Suso love putting balls into the box, dangerous and dipping strikes, but there’s never anyone there to put it away. I mean, it’s not funny, but if that’s going to be the tactic put Patrick Cutrone in. Nikola Kalinic alone in the box isn’t going to win any hearts.

70’

Milan moving the ball well now, looking for space behind Napoli’s back lines. Also while we’re being positive, how about Cristián Zapata and Mateo Musacchio today? Shutting down this front three from Napoli is no easy task, even if they aren’t on their best day. Still scoreless here at the San Siro...

75’

Andre Silva makes his way!

Milan getting a bit sloppy now. Hakan had two poor passes in their defensive third, losing possession, and then Bonaventura on a counter losing the ball out of play. Napoli really pushing forward now, unrelenting in their pressure, switching to almost four up front.

80’

The Rossoneri aren’t playing for the draw, regardless of what the American announcers on BeIN say. Locatelli comes in for Bonaventura, but Milan pushing forward looking to sneak away with three points.

85’

Both sides look incredible tired at this point. Insigne not letting Donnarumma lax, as he gets off another weirdly acute shot that most would put in the side netting. Milan come right back with Lucas Biglia taking a shot off from distance, a deflection wins the Rossoneri a corner here late. Milan really pressuring here, going on their third corner in a row, then a fourth. Talk about chances. Andre Silva rose high but puts the ball over the net.

More chances squandered.

90’ (Fulltime)

Locatelli has been involved greatly since coming onto the pitch. Hard to believe we might end this match scoreless given all the chances from both sides. Milan arguably the better team today, once again, just couldn’t capitalize on their chances.

WHAT A SAVE FROM DONNARUMMA!