The five key battles that could win or lose the game for Milan against Napoli | OneFootball

AC Milan face one of their toughest tests of the season on paper tonight as they travel to play Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Milan are back to being nine points behind fourth place so they have an obligation to try win every remaining game in order to keep their Champions League hopes alive. However, they face a Napoli side that are fighting for the title, and it is an Antonio Conte side.

The Partenopei though are in desperate need of three points after just one win in the last seven games, drawing five of them. There is now a slight gap with Inter at the top and that means the pressure is on.

The five key battles

For Milan, the outcome of the game might just hinge on whether they can stop Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian has been directly involved in eight goals (6G+2A) in 818 minutes against Milan in all competitions (one goal or assist every 102 minutes).

Only Lautaro Martínez (10) has had a hand in more goals against the Rossoneri in the period among players in the Big five European leagues, but with 621 more minutes than the Belgian (one every 144′). Malick Thiaw is likely to be his opponent and it will be a real physical test for the German centre-back, after a week in which he has been linked with an exit.

Milan’s danger man in the forward line is Christian Pulisic. With his 30 goals and 17 assists, he is one of only two Serie A players to have both scored at least 30 goals and provided at least 15 assists in all competitions since arriving, along with Ademola Lookman (35G+15A).

At present it seems as though Mathías Olivera will start for Napoli at left-back, so he will have the double role of trying to keep tabs on the movement of the USA international while also getting forward at the right moments to support the attack.

In midfield, there will be a fascinating battle between Tijjani Reijnders and Billy Gilmour. The Dutchman has scored 16 times for club and country in 2024-25 and he is enjoying more of an advanced role under Sergio Conceicao, which he should once again have tonight.

Gilmour meanwhile has had an up and down season having signed last summer. He was initially a regular starter but then seemed to lose his spot to Lobotka, before getting it back again earlier in the month. The Scotland international is yet to register a goal or assist in Serie A, however.

Milan will be hoping that Theo Hernandez continues his trend of lighting up when Napoli are the opponents. He has been the protagonist in some recent wins against the Azzurri, including scoring the only goal in the 1-0 victory at San Siro last season.

In a season that has been anything but positive for the Frenchman overall, there have never been more doubts about his future at the club. Matteo Politano will be his opponent tonight, a player that has caused Milan damage in the past and represents a real threat on Napoli’s right side.

We end with another dual in the midfield, though there is a bit more doubt about where Scott McTominay will actually play, amid rumours Conte could use a 4-3-3 or even a 4-2-4 to get all his key men out there. Gilmour’s compatriot has continued the knack he developed at Manchester United for being a goal-scoring midfielder, with seven to his name already.

On the other side Warren Bondo is currently expected to be the deeper-lying midfielder for Milan. In addition to being an effective screen for a back four that has been so regularly breached in recent months, he will have to keep tabs on the Scot because of the dangerous runs that he so often makes.