Giroud sends Milan two points clear of Inter

 

Olivier Giroud’s solitary strike in the Scudetto derby between AC Milan and Torino has secured maximum points for the Rossoneri.

The win takes them to 60 points, two points above the defending champions, Inter Milan.

Although the Nerazzurri has played a game less than Stephan Pioli’s men. After beating Salertainia 5-0, Simeone Inzaghi’s men had jumped to the summit temporarily before this game. They still have the chance to win an outstanding game and return to the summit, a point clear of their city and title rivals.

The lanky striker was a beneficiary of a redirected wayward effort from Davide Calabria.

This is a huge victory for Milan away from home. It’s a repeat of last season’s feat where a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic decided the clash.

With the Rossoneri clear on top, Napoli will now be chasing them in the Scudetto race.

Before the kick-off, both sides were head-to-head, as they were joint leaders going.

AC Milan had their penalty appeal turned down through Ismael Bennacer early in the game, but Kalidou Koulibaly was trying to get out of the way.

Napoli also called for a VAR check after an ill-advised Fikayo Tomori challenge on Osimhen at the by-line, but nothing was given.

David Ospina was called into action through a sensational reaction save from Junior Messias’ header from a Sandro Tonali corner.

Koulibaly then got into the referee’s book for catching the back of Giroud’s ankle. The Senegalese did real damage, as the Milan striker was bleeding badly from that cut.

Rafael Leao also tested Ospina from distance. Giroud will very in the second half break the deadlock. Napoli failed to clear a free-kick properly, giving Calabria a chance for an attempt, but it was woeful. The poor attempt then became an assist to Giroud to redirect into the net with the inside of his boot.

Although Osimhen also shot straight at Mike Maignan after a give-and-go with Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Ospina also caught Leao’s deflected strike. The Napoli goalkeeper got also stopped Bennacer’s curler round the far bottom corner from the edge of the box, while Adam Ounas hit a curler just wide of the far post.

Substitute Chucky Lozano also shot off target, and Osimhen later forced a Maignan to save at the base of the near post.

Milan left-back Theo Hernandez sprinted away from Koulibaly and stung Ospina’s gloves at the other end.

After the end to end attack, Milan took away Maximum points from Naples.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed