Salernitana 1-2 AC Milan: Rafael Leao and Sandro Tonali strike as Rossoneri close gap on Napoli in Serie A

Serie A holders AC Milan started 2023 with a cagey 2-1 win at Salernitana as they moved within five points of leaders Napoli in Serie A.

The visitors' quality was evident in the first half as they slotted away two goals in quick succession to head into the half-time break with a healthy lead. But they faded in the second half and became complacent, albeit Guillermo Ochoa still pulled off some wonderful saves.

Salernitana managed to claw their way back through Federico Bonazzoli in the 83rd minute but ultimately left it too late for a comeback.

The home side started the game well but always looked vulnerable from Milan’s willingness to get in behind, which was evident with Rafael Leao’s first chance at goal. A well-worked transitional move, strung together by Olivier Giroud and Brahim Diaz, got Rafael Leao running at the Salernitana defence.

Ochoa did well to stop him the first time round, closing the angle well. But just three minutes later, Leao teased Ochoa with the ball before knocking it past him and finishing, despite the tight angle he found himself in. It was another example of why the 23-year-old is on the radar of Europe’s top clubs.

After the first goal, Milan piled on the pressure, with Leao once again causing trouble on the left, taking on and beating his full-back. His shot was deflected but not cleared as it fell to Sandro Tonali outside the box, and his crack at it was saved by Ochoa, but once again not cleared. And so Diaz managed to latch onto it and calmly pass it into the path of Tonali, who made no mistake with his second bite to put Milan two to the good.

In the second half, Milan seemed to loosen their grip on the game, they lost the control that they had in the first half and at times, it became a tennis match. Which led to us witnessing Ochoa’s magnificent shot-stopping prowess.

In fact, it was the Mexican's double save which led to Salernitana getting their goal on the counter as a lovely ball played to the back post was put away by substitute Bonazzoli. But it turned out to be merely a consolation goal as Milan held out for the win.

A title defence? Thus far this season, Milan have shown somewhat similar form to that which led them to a first Serie A title in 11 years last season, with perhaps a slight dip. But the point of difference this season in comparison, has been the magnificence of Napoli who have won 13 and drawn twice in 15 games, as they sit pretty at the top of the table. Milan are clearly very capable of putting together a great run of form which could see them right back up there and in genuine contention of defending their crown, but the second of this game perhaps shows us why they are off the pace.

They lost control of the game, failed to kill it off, and almost dropped two points against a Salernitana side who are coming off the back of two defeats. They had moments where they let the match become end to end, and required some excellent defensive actions from Fikayo Tomori, rather than controlling the game and picking their moments to speed it up. They still have a great chance at the title, but that can’t happen with performances such as the one they displayed in the second half today. With their win today they have closed the gap from eight points to five, but will need a favour from fierce rivals Inter today to keep it at five, as they face Napoli at the San Siro.

Guillermo Ochoa (Salernitana). It’s not often you give your MOTM award to a player on the losing side, and honestly, it could have gone to either Tonali or Leao from the winning side. Leao for his threat and danger which ultimately gave his side the lead or Tonali for how he dictated much of the game, as well as how calmly he took his goal, and if it wasn’t for a rather underwhelming performance from Milan in the second half, it may have gone to either of the pair.

But on this occasion, it has to go to Ochoa, on his debut for his new club and a first ever appearance in Italian football. Yes he conceded two, but if not for his brilliant shot stopping capabilities, his side could have conceded 4 or 5. And the two he did concede, can’t be pinned on him. Overall he made a total of nine saves, including an excellent double save which then led to his side breaking and scoring on the transition. A tough first 15 or so minutes for the Mexican international but he bounced back with excellence and kept his side in it with some gorgeous saves.

Salernitana: Ochoa 8, Lovato 5, Radovanovic 6, Fazio 6, Sambia 6, Coulibaly 7, Bohinen 7, Vilhena 6, Bradaric 5, Piatek 6, Dia 6. Subs: Daniliuc 6, Bonnazzoli 7, Kastanos 6, Valencia 6.

AC Milan: Tatarusanu 6, Calabria 7, Kalulu 6, Tomori 7, Hernandez 7, Bennacer 7, Tonali 8, Diaz 7, Saelemaekers 6, Leao 8, Giroud 7. Subs: De Ketelaere 6, Gabbia 6, Dest, 6, Vranckx 6.

10': GOAL! Ochoa kept him out the first time, but the 23-year-old finishes off his chance this time round. Once again, Leao gets in behind Salernitana's backline, this time, as Ochoa comes out to him, he knocks it past him and finishes it off despite the awkward angle.

15': GOAL! They have hit the ground running! Leao once again causing trouble on the left, beating his full-back, his shot is deflected and causes a scramble in the box, it then falls to Diaz, who calmly plays it into to Tonali, and the midfielder makes no mistakes.

60': VAR NO GOAL! After checking for a possible offside, VAR asks the referee to check for himself on the monitor, and the referee deems Diaz to have been off before he played his part in the goal, back to 0-2!

83' OCHOA DOUBLE SAVE! The Mexican international showing off some of his shot stopping prowess to stop Milan getting a third with a brilliant and instinctive double save.

83' SALERNITANA GET ONE BACK! Game on! The home side drag themselves back into this one, substitute Bonazzoli at the back post with a tidy finish. Those two Ochoa saves look even more vital now.

More to follow.