The Italian football champions AC Milan have had to put up with a sensitive setback in the race for participation in the Champions League in Serie A. Milan surprisingly lost 2:5 (1:3) to relegation candidate Sassuolo Calcio and fell out of the Champions League ranks as a result of the second defeat in a row.
The scandal-plagued record champions Juventus Turin meanwhile remained without a win after the 0: 2 (0: 2) against promoted AC Monza in the second game after the deduction of 15 points due to balance sheet fraud.
At the top of the SSC Napoli came to a happy 2-1 (1-0) against AS Roma. Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt’s opponents in the Champions League in the round of 16 still have a comfortable lead of 13 points over former champions Inter Milan (2-1 at US Cremonese).
Goals from vice world champion Olivier Giroud (24th) to make it 1: 2 in the meantime and from Divock Origi (81st) to make it 2: 5 were not enough for Milan to make up for the recent disastrous 0: 4 at Lazio Rome.
On the contrary: The highly motivated outsider earned the success through a solid team performance. Gregoire Defrel (19′), Davide Frattesi (21′), Domenico Berardi (30′), Armand Lauriente (47′, penalty kick) and Matheus Henrique (79′) scored. The outstanding player was Berardi, who not only scored himself but also added three more goals.
Napoli took the lead through Victor Osimhen (17th). After Rome’s equalizer (75′), Giovanni Simeone ensured the hosts’ victory four minutes before the end of normal time.