Giroud helps Milan beat title rival Napoli 1-0 in Serie A

Milan, March 7 (BNA): Olivier Giroud proved to be the difference for Milan this year as the veteran striker scored again against one of his direct rivals to help the Rossoneri win 1-0 over Napoli on Sunday and keep them going. Of course to win their first Serie A title in over a decade.

The Associated Press reported that Giroud scored the only goal in an intense but critical match to return Milan to the top of Serie A.

Milan, who last won the league in 2011, are two points ahead of defending champions Inter Milan – who have played a game less – and three points ahead of Napoli in third.

The 35-year-old, who joined from Chelsea in the off-season, also scored the two goals in the 2-1 win over Inter last month.

“We wanted to bring players who are important, players who have already won something, players who know what it means to work hard to win,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. “It just took a video call with Olivier for us all to realize what a great professional he is, what a great person he is in front of us.

“It is important to have players with experience, professionalism and personality, especially given that we are still a young team. Our aim was to include high-level players: technically, tactically and morally. Oliver is all of that.”

Juventus are seven points behind Milan and maintained their slim title hopes with a 1-0 win over Spezia.

The pre-match talk centered on the return of 40-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been available to Milan for the first time since January after an Achilles problem.

But instead, it was one of the veterans who took center stage. After a first half full of entertainment but low in scoring opportunities, Giroud broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half.

Napoli failed to clear a free kick and although David Calabria’s shot was distressing, Giroud did well to drive into the lower left corner.

This was Giroud’s eleventh goal with Milan, but his first away from the San Siro.

Napoli leveled immediately, but Victor Osimhen’s powerful shot was directed at Milan goalkeeper Mike Minnen.

Ibrahimovic was brought in at the last minute.

Overcoming injuries

Juventus extended its unbeaten career in the league to 14 matches, despite the injury crisis that saw Massimiliano Allegri’s team start the match in Turin without nine regular players.

Juventus advanced by six points from fifth-placed Atalanta, who played a game less.

Alvaro Morata scored the only goal of the match in the 21st minute after a mistake by Spezia goalkeeper Ivan Providel. His terrible kick was intercepted in midfield and played through Manuel Locatelli, who passed it to Morata in a superb position on the left side of the area. The Juventus forward hit the ball into the far bottom corner to score his first league goal since December.

Spezia started the second half strongly and almost equalized, but Emmanuel Gyasi’s header was directly at Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who hit it on the goal line.

chase europe

Fiorentina regretted many missed opportunities, drawing 1-1 at home against Hellas Verona.

Only two points separate the two teams, and both of them desperately needed a win to get close to the European centers.

Krzysztof Piątek Fiorentina took the lead in the 10th minute, but Gianluca Capari equalized with a penalty ten minutes later.

At the other end of the table, Genoa recorded their sixth straight draw as they continued to try to force their way to safety.

Genoa drew 0-0 against Empoli to move it seven points from safety. Venezia also remained in third place, losing 4-1 at home to Sassuolo. Torino drew 0-0 at the Bologna stadium.