Giroud and Raspadori steal the show with Leao and Kvara subdued

Reaction continues to come in after the enthralling 2-2 draw between Napoli and AC Milan at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona last night, and Corriere dello Sport have published their recap.

The paper (via PianetaMilan) highlight that it was Giacomo Raspadori and Olivier Giroud who made themselves the stars of the show and not Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Rafael Leão like many presumed it would be.

It was a match that was red and black in the first half, then blue in the second half. Giroud’s brace put Milan in a good position but then Raspadori’s excellent free-kick rescued a draw as the two forwards did what they are asked to do: score goals.

For both of the Frenchman’s goals he managed to evade Amir Rrahmani’s marking without too much difficulty. In 2023, Giroud is the striker who – together with Harry Kane and Erling Braut Haaland – has scored the most headed goals with seven.

They marked the 37-year-old’s third and fourth goals at the Maradona since joining Milan, but he had to watch as Matteo Politano and then Raspadori threw away the lead that had been established.

Napoli had not scored from a direct free kick in Serie A since 3 April 2021 when Dries Mertens scored against Crotone, but Raspadori is someone who works hard on set pieces and it earned his side an important point.