The Serie A league leaders in Italy received a harsh reality check yesterday when AC Milan, the defending champions, defeated them in a 4-0 game at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona.
High-flying Napoli, who were without their star striker Victor Osimhen, were defeated by two goals from last season’s MVP Rafael Leao and one each from Brahim Diaz and Alexis Saelemaekers.
With the defeat, Luciano Spaletti’s team’s lead over Lazio in second place was cut to 16 points.
At the same time, it moved Milan up to third place, one point ahead of Inter Milan, which suffered a defeat to Fiorentina on Saturday.
According to Italy 24, Napoli ultras protested ahead of the game. Those inside the stadium were ordered to stay silent in protest against club president Aurelio de Laurentiis for rising ticket prices and increased security measures.
Napoli fans brawl inside stadium The fans stuck to their agreement in the earlier stages of the game, but they proved they didn’t deserve one of their demands after a brawl broke out in Curva B during the first half, as reported by Football Italia.
They further pushed against their demands when another fight broke out at half-time. The fans turned their backs and only made insulting chants towards De Laurentiis, but got triggered when some cheered the team.
Botte in curva tra tifosi del #Napoli al #Maradona durante #NapoliMilan. Vergogna assoluta 😡 pic.twitter.com/DH9y2AXbRu
— Antonello Perillo (@anperillo) April 2, 2023
Their demands were not helped when the situation got worse in the closing stages of the game, with fireworks lighting inside the stadium causing pandemonium and fans running for safety.
It was not the first time Neapolitans caused violence this season. They were barred from attending the away game to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League after causing disruption in the first leg of the encounter.
Spalletti laments Osimhen’s injury
It was reported that Napoli head coach Luciano Spalletti lamented the absence of Osimhen after the striker picked up a muscle injury during the international break.
Spalletti started young striker Giovanni Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone, in place of Osimhen but the Nigerian striker’s impact could not be matched.
The former Lille striker is expected to miss the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Milan.