Napoli kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League by beating 10-man AC Milan 3-0 at the Stadio San Paolo.
Mattia De Sciglio was sent off for Milan inside the first minute for bringing down Marek Hamsik inside the box, but Gonzalo Higuain saw the resulting penalty saved by Diego Lopez.
The Azzurri took complete control of the match, but they had to wait until Hamsik found the net with a low strike in the 70th minute to take the lead.
Gonzalo Higuain quickly added a second, before Manolo Gabbiadini's effort wrapped up the points and helped Napoli to close the gap on third-placed Lazio.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone! It's been a busy weekend of football in Italy, with the Serie A title finally secured by Juventus after their win over Sampdoria yesterday. There's still one more game to go tonight, as Champions League hopefuls Napoli take on AC Milan at the Stadio San Paolo.
Napoli have been in good form recently and three straight wins in the league helped them to close the gap on the top three. However, they were dealt a blow in midweek, as they slipped to a 4-2 defeat at Empoli that has seriously damaged their chances of getting into the Champions League.
Il nostro spogliatoio è pronto, tra poco arriverà la squadra al San Paolo! #NapoliMilan #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/aQ34KpR4Br
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) May 3, 2015
Meanwhile, it has been another frustrating week for Milan, who have lost their previous two games. During their 3-1 defeat against Genoa on Wednesday evening, fans at San Siro were vocal in their protests against the club and reports have suggested that another bad result tonight could spell the end for manager Filippo Inzaghi.
TEAMS:
NAPOLI XI: Andujar, Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Ghoulam, Jorginho, Lopez, Callejon, Hamsik, Insigne, Higuain
MILAN XI: Lopez, De Sciglio, Alex, Paletta, Bocchetti, Poli, De Jong, Van Ginkel, Honda, Bonaventura, Destro
So, that's how each team will be lining up in Naples this evening. Let's start by looking at the hosts, who are once again led by their top-scorer Gonzalo Higuain. Jose Callejon, Marek Hamsik and Lorenzo Insigne will support him in the attack, while David Lopez and Jorginho are brought back into the midfield.
Milan are without Jeremy Menez, who has been handed a four-game ban after insulting the match officials during the defeat to Genoa. His absence sees Mattia Destro return to the starting lineup to play in a forward trio alongside Keisuke Honda and Giacomo Bonaventura. There are also three changes made to the back four, as Alex, Salvatore Bocchetti and Gabriel Paletta all start, but Phillipe Mexes is suspended.
There was some good news for Napoli earlier today, as Lazio could only draw away to Atalanta, meaning that a victory for the Azzurri tonight would close the gap to four points. They probably won't be able to catch Roma, who are eight points ahead of them in second place, after their victory over Genoa.
It was actually Milan who came out on top when these teams last met back in December. Goals from Jeremy Menez and Giacomo Bonaventura gave them a 2-0 victory, but the Rossoneri have only won four of the 18 league matches that they have played since.
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PREDICTION: Napoli will be desperate to bounce back from their defeat at Empoli and show the sort of form that they have produced in recent games against Fiorentina and Sampdoria. They may not be the most reliable team at the back, but they should have far too much quality in attack for Milan, so I'm going to tip Benitez's side to claim a 3-1 win.
The two teams have just made their way out of the dressings rooms and onto the pitch. We are now just a few moments away from the start of the match and we'll have it all covered for you live!
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadio San Paolo!
PENALTY TO NAPOLI AND RED CARD TO MILAN! What a terrible start to the night for Milan, who are down to 10 men and facing a penalty inside the first minute! Hamsik latches onto Insigne's pass and is through on goal, before he is hacked down by De Sciglio. It was a clear penalty and now Higuain will have the chance to score from the spot.
MISSED PENALTY! The drama continues in Naples as Higuain sees his spot kick saved by Lopez. The Argentine had to wait an age to take the penalty, but the keeper made a fine dive to his right to push it to safety.
As you would expect, Napoli are completely dominating the ball against the 10 men of Milan and they have the visitors pushed back deep on the edge of their own box. You've got to feel for Inzaghi, as his plans for tonight's match have been completely thrown out of the window in less than 60 seconds.
We know that Napoli aren't the best team defensively and they are almost sliced open, as Honda charges through the midfield. The Japanese international then looks to bend in a strike, but his effort takes a deflection and it goes comfortably into the gloves of the keeper.
Every time Milan manage to clear the ball, it is immediately coming right back at them with wave after wave of Napoli attacks. So far, the visitors haven't created too much, with the penalty their only effort on goal.
SHOT! The visitors have looked a danger whenever they have got into the final third and Bonaventura tries his luck with a fierce strike from around 25 yards. It is straight at Andujar, who manages to hold on, but these are positive signs for the Rossoneri.
If Milan haven't already had enough problems this evening, then here's another to add to the list, as Bonaventura is down after a heavy fall. He is just receiving some treatment from the medical staff, but it doesn't look too serious.
Napoli just seem to be forcing it at the moment, as they look to get themselves in front. They have got plenty of time to score this evening and I'm sure that Benitez will be urging his players to be patient and keep making their opponents work hard to win the ball back in order to wear them down.
Decent chance here for Napoli, as Callejon gets to the byline and stands up a great cross to Insigne in the middle. However, the winger completely misses his kick and Milan are once again able to clear the danger.
You just wonder whether the crowd will play a part this evening, if Napoli fail to break the deadlock before half time. The supporters have been in good voice, but the longer it stays this way, then the more frustrated that they are going to get.
If Milan are to snatch anything from tonight's match, then a set piece could be their best option. They have just seen a Bonaventura free kick nodded behind for a corner, with the resulting set piece cleared by the Napoli defence.
At the other end of the pitch, Napoli win a corner, but they decide to play it back instead of whipping it straight into the box. By the time they finally do cross the ball, it ends up going harmlessly out of play and brings a number of jeers from the crowd.
It may seem strange, but the early red card is probably not what Napoli would have wanted. They have really struggled to get in behind the Milan defence, who are putting in a resolute display to frustrate the hosts at the moment.
This is superb defending from Paletta. A chipped pass over the top looks like it is about to find Higuain, but defender manges to stretch out a leg and diverts the ball behind for a corner. Napoli can't make anything from the set piece though, which the visitors easily clear.
It's still not quite happening for Napoli, but some of their link up play has been great to watch. Higuain and Hamsik have shown a good understanding and they are unlucky to see an exchange of passes cut out inside the box.
OFF THE POST! What a chance for Milan to take the lead. Bocchetti gets free down the left and he whips in a fine cross that is met by Bonaventura, who powers in a header that has the keeper well beaten, but hits the outside of the post.
CHANCE! Napoli come close at the other end, as Hamsik collects the ball just outside the box and gets it onto his right foot, before crashing a strike narrowly wide of the post.
SHOT! Milan have defended well, but on this occasion Bocchetti loses the ball cheaply to Insigne. The winger then finds Higuain just inside the box, but the Argentine's curling effort goes well over the bar.
There will be just one minute added on to the end of this first half.
HALF-TIME: Napoli 0-0 Milan
It's half time at the Stadio San Paolo and we are still goalless between Napoli and Milan. The visitors have been playing with 10 men from the opening minute after Mattia De Sciglio's early red card, but the hosts have been unable to punish them, with Gonzalo Higuain failing to find the net from the penalty spot.
Milan fans must have been fearing the worst after such a bad start to the match, but they have put in a fine defensive display to go into the break on level terms. They have also looked dangerous on the rare occasions that they have got forward and Giacomo Bonaventura probably had the best chance, when he headed against the post.
It's worth remembering that Napoli play the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Dnipro on Thursday evening, so they could make a few changes to their side in the second half. If they are unable to get a quick goal after the break, then I'm sure we will see the likes of Manolo Gabbiadini and Dries Mertens introduced.
Milan take the kick off and get the second half underway!
Almost a terrible start to the half for Milan, as they lose the ball cheaply to Higuain, who bursts down the left. He then drives in a low cross that comes through to Callejon at the back post, but his effort is blocked behind for a corner.
Once again Napoli are let down by their final ball, as Insigne plays a superb reverse pass over the top that finds Callejon. The winger then tries to deliver a cross for Higuain in the middle, but he scuffs his kick and the chance goes to waste.
CHANCE! Napoli miss another very decent opening. Callejon is slid in down the right by Insigne and he fires a low cross, despite none of his teammates being anywhere near the ball. Moments later, he whips in another delivery, but it again fails to find anyone.
SUBSTITUTION: Napoli make their first change of the match, with Gabbiadini coming on to replace Jorginho.
SUBSTITUTION: It's a change for Milan too, as Pazzini comes on for Destro.
OFF THE POST! The pressure from Napoli really is beginning to mount and they come agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock when Callejon whips in a low cross that is touched onto the far post by Hamsik.
SUBSTITUTION: Milan make their second change of the match, with Bonera replacing Bocchetti.
Napoli keep throwing everything they have at Milan, but the visitors are repelling all of their attacks. Alex and Paletta have been rocks at the back and they have really shown great spirit following their poor display against Genoa.
YELLOW CARD! Albiol picks up a booking for Napoli after bringing down Honda.
We have seen some good deliveries into the box from Callejon on the right, but this time Ghoulam gets free down the other flank and drills a teasing low ball across the box that Gabbiadini can't meet on the stretch, before it is cleared by Bonera.
SUBSTITUTION: Napoli are making another change, with Mertens taking Insigne's place in the attack.
GOAL! Napoli 1-0 Milan (Marek Hamsik)
It's taken them nearly 70 minutes to make their numerical advantage count, but Napoli finally have the lead. Hamsik is the man who breaks the deadlock, as he latches onto a clearance just inside the box, before placing a great strike beyond the reach of Lopez at his near post.
GOAL! Napoli 2-0 Milan (Gonzalo Higuain)
It's all over for Milan now, as Higuain doubles Napoli's lead. Mertens latches onto a ball down the left and he pulls the ball back for Higuain, who makes no mistake with a composed finish into the corner that leaves the keeper with absolutely no chance.
GOAL! Napoli 3-0 Milan (Manolo Gabbiadini)
The goals keep coming for Napoli and it could get quite embarrassing for Milan. Ghoulam drives down the left and whips in a low ball for Higuain. The Argentine then sees his shot saved by Lopez, but the rebound hits Gabbiadini and ends up landing in the back of the net.
YELLOW CARD! Mertens is shown a card for diving, as he attempted to win a penalty from Alex. There did appear to be contact between the two players, so I think that's a harsh decision by the referee.
Napoli seem to have settled for this result and it will be enough to move them to within four points of Lazio in the table. They were certainly made to wait, but once they broke the deadlock it was clear that Milan were a beaten team.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Changes for both teams here, as Luperto is on for Napoli in place of Lopez, while Felicioli is on for Milan, with Bonaventura making way.
It's possession football from Napoli now and the two teams are just waiting for the final whistle. Napoli will be delighted to have finally got the job done and it should give them a boost of confidence ahead of their Europa League tie.
There are going to be two minutes of stoppage time.
SAVE! Almost a fourth goal right at the death from Napoli, as Mertens bends in a great strike from just outside the box that is brilliantly tipped behind by Lopez.
FULL-TIME: Napoli 3-0 Milan
The final whistle blows and Napoli have run out 3-0 winners. They took their time to break the deadlock, but once they had the lead the result was never in doubt. It was a spirited performance from Milan, who held on for as long as they could, but it's another difficult night for Inzaghi.
Right, that's just about all we've got time for this evening. Make sure you stick with us for all of the latest news and all of the reaction from today's matches. I hope you have enjoyed our coverage. Goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
