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19 December 2021 Napoli won 1-0 at San Siro over Milan, whose equal goal was canceled in the final for offside with much controversy, thanks to the opening goal by Elmas. The Neapolitans thus hook the Rossoneri to second place in the standings with 39 points, and in fact give the title of Winter Champion to Inter at 43, one day early.



Spalletti remains unbeaten in the nine challenges as manager with Stefano Pioli in Serie A (seven wins and two draws) and extends the unbeaten run even against Milan to 14 matches.



The match was intense and tactically well played by the two teams despite the many absences on both sides. The Napoli coach has few choices and in attack at the start he lines up Petagna supported by Lozano, then Zielinski and Elmas in support. While Pioli loses Theo Hernandez at the last moment, and inserts Ballo Touré, and in attack he lines up Ibrahimovic supported by the trident Messias, Diaz and Krunic.



But it was Napoli who got off to a better start at San Siro, and at the first lunge they scored: in the 5 'corner kick hit hard at the near post by Zielinski and header by Elmas who beats Maignan by crushing the ball to the ground. Milan accuse the cold blow and still risk in the 9th minute with Anguissa who from inside the area does not find the decisive deviation. Pioli shakes the team that raises the center of gravity and nearly equal in the 18 'with Ibrahimovic: cross from Ballo Touré and header from the Swede that ends just wide. Milan, however, fails to raise the pace as they would like, and Napoli is waiting for him without suffering too much. At 34 'Florenzi tries but the powerful conclusion of the full-back from the edge ends just wide. Spalletti's team works well in the spaces and in the final Lozano tries on two occasions,but both the striker's conclusions are blocked by the Rossoneri defense.



At the beginning of the second half the Devil starts with greater conviction and in the 49th minute it is again Ibra who becomes dangerous, but the powerful left foot of the Swedish striker is instinctively deflected into a corner by Ospina. Milan increases the pressure on Napoli's ball carriers to get back to speed but expose themselves to the blues and in one of these Petagna in front of Maignan is anticipated at the last moment by Tomori who closes in a corner. The match is very physical, the pace is high but Milan are struggling to find space forward.



Pioli in the 63rd minute decides to increase the offensive potential and inserts Giroud and Saelemaekers to join Ibra and Messias. Just the Brazilian in personal action tries from the edge at 68 'but the conclusion ends just above the crossbar. At 74 'Giroud tries his head but the ball is still high. The restarts of Napoli, however, are deadly and on the Malcuit-Petagna axis the attacker reaches the shot from the edge but sends high. Milan tries, fights and in the 84th minute Ibra tries to take advantage of a defensive blunder by Anguissa but does not check in front of a few steps from Ospina. In the 90th minute, the Rossoneri found the equalizer with Kessié after a hitting and countering in the area, but the referee after a check from the Var canceled for offside due to an irregular position of Giroud.Final siege of Milan but no luck and Napoli conquer San Siro.