Napoli 2-2 AC Milan: Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori cancel out Olivier Giroud double in thrilling Serie A draw

Olivier Giroud struck twice but AC Milan lost ground on Serie A leaders Inter as 10-man Napoli hit back from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

French World Cup winner Giroud broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when he nodded home Christian Pulisic’s cross from close range despite the best efforts of Alex Meret in The Partenopei goal.

The hosts responded and should have levelled when Matteo Politano fired a simple chance into the side netting from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s wonderful cross.

It proved to be a costly miss as Giroud headed in his second of the contest just past the half hour.

Milan threatened to run riot in the final moments of the first 45 with Tijjani Reijnders, Rafael Leao and Pulisic all going close to adding to the visitors’ tally.

Napoli were jeered off at the interval but returned with renewed vigour in the second period and Politano reduced the arrears on 50 minutes with a venomous solo strike.

Rudi Garcia’s men piled forward in search of the leveller and got it just past the hour when Giacomo Raspadroi curved home a sublime 25-yard free-kick.

Both sides pushed for a winner, to no avail, with Napoli seeing out the final moments with 10 men following a second yellow card for Natan.

The result means Milan stay third, a point behind second-placed Juventus and three off leaders Inter.

Napoli remain four points adrift of The Rossoneri in fourth. Next up, Milan host Udinese on Saturday. Napoli visit Salernitana.

It was a clash of the past two Scudetto winners and it didn’t disappoint.

It felt like the match had everything as Milan produced a scintillating first-half display that could have seen them move out of sight prior to the interval to the backdrop of fireworks and boos from the home crowd.

It then transformed into the cliche of a game of two halves, as Napoli turned the game completely on its head with two wonderful strikes to level matters and secure a deserved point.

It may not do much to help their title aspirations, but it was a truly enthralling spectacle and right up there as one of the best matches of the season so far.

The veteran forward rolled back the years with a trademark brace of headers. The 37-year-old had an excellent first half but was left frustrated in his search for a hat-trick as Napoli took charge in the second period.

NAPOLI: Meret 6, Di Lorenzo 7, Natan 4, Rrahmani 6, Mario Rui 6, Elmas 6, Lobotka 7, Zielinski 7, Politano 8, Raspadori 8, Kvaratskhelia 8. Subs: Olivera 7, Simeone 7, Ostigard 7, Anguissa 6, Zanoli n/a.

AC MILAN: Maignan 7, Calabria 7, Hernandez 7, Kalulu 5, Tomori 7, Krunic 7, Musah 7, Reijnders 7, Pulisic 7, Leao 7, Giroud *8. Subs: Pellegrino 7, Romero 6, Jovic n/a, Okafor n/a, Florenzi n/a.

22’ – GOAL! – Napoli 0-1 AC Milan. Giroud meets Pulisic's cross from the right and manages to force a header beyond Meret.

27’ – NAPOLI CHANCE! Kvaratskhelia darts beyond his marker to the left byline and rolls a wonderful ball across the six-yard box, but Politano fires into the side netting at the far post.

31’ – GOAL! – Napoli 0-2 AC Milan. Giroud at the double! The French striker holds off his marker to guide Calabria's cross into the corner of the net.

50’ – GOAL! – Napoli 1-2 AC Milan. Politano lashes a thunderous shot past Maignan after outfoxing two defenders on the right side of the area.

63’ – GOAL! – Napoli 2-2 AC Milan. Wow! Raspadori curves a superb 25-yard free around the wall and into the far corner. All square!

89’ – NAPOLI RED CARD! Natan picks up a second caution for a clumsy challenge on Simeone. Napoli are down to 10 men with stoppage time to come.

90+1’ – AC MILAN CHANCE! Davide Calabria arrives at the far post to meet a left-wing cross but heads into the side netting.

90+5' - NAPOLI CHANCE! Kvaratskhelia drives at his man on the left side of the box and flashes a low shot in that Maignan blocks with his feet... And that's the last of the action -almost a sensational last-gasp winner for the 10 men of Napoli!

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