Napoli – AC Milan. Beaten by nothing at San Siro last week, the Neapolitans advance diminished but not resigned to overthrow the Milanese n and give even more relief to a crazy season. Follow with us, from the kick-off, the match between Napoli and AC Milan, live commented.
The fervor of San Siro and of a Milanese people singing their joy to find the European elite and what is more to end the evening with a victory, certainly minimal but so precious, still resonates. Six days have passed since this first leg, since this devastating counter-attack concluded by Bennacer and which left Naples on their knees. Six long days to reach this moment, the one that a whole city has always been waiting for feverishly and feverishly.
Does Osimhen’s return change everything?
If the Milan fans had been grandiose, they should find an echo at least as strong, if not more so when the whole Diego-Maradona goes wild before the first notes of the Champions League anthem even begin. “To defend what we have done so far (first qualification for a C1 quarter-final, editor’s note), would be to not believe that we can do more. But we think we can do more. There is no risk in tomorrow’s match (Tuesday, editor’s note), we just risk infinite happiness”, believes Luciano Spalletti, like an invocation. The Neapolitan supporters hope for no less and will fully play their role as 12th man to push their players to do what is necessary.
A goal behind is not insurmountable for the leader of Serie A, especially since he is making a comeback. Absent in the first leg, Osimhen will be present at the forefront of the Azzurri attack and that changes everything or almost. The Nigerian is not just a formidable scorer, he is a fulcrum capable of holding the ball in front, of making the difference in the air. Better, it is the privileged relay of Kvaratshkelia, too often obliged to manage alone in San Siro. “Milan plays total, modern football, pressing you. But they will probably keep in mind that there will be Osimhen up front”, knows Spalletti. It remains to be seen how the Neapolitans will handle the pressure and articulate themselves defensively in the absence of Kim and Anguissa, both suspended.
wait or not
For its part, AC Milan asks far fewer questions and will come forward with the certainty of mastering its subject and having the legs and the head to endure the promised hell. It will thus be necessary for Stefano Pioli’s men to avoid the fury of the start of the match as was the case last week. If he got away with it then, it may not always be so. “It would be a mistake to think about defending because we have a minimal advantage and they have scored an average of three or four goals per game”, warns Pioli who does not need to remind his people how dangerous the evening’s opponent can be. The Lombard technician urges his players to play as they know how to do and he can count on a full squad.
Satisfied with his animation in Milan, he will probably field the same team, always with Giroud to weigh in front, supported by Diaz and Leao. The latter showed that he could exploit the spaces in the back and push back the entire opposing block when the Spaniard with his technical ease can get rid of too pressing a marking and give good balls. “They are very strong. We will have to be careful on counterattacks and keep the ball. If we keep it, they won’t be able to do anything”, points out Juan Jesus, who will replace Kim in central defense in Naples. A simple equation if we follow his reasoning but we know full well that a quarter-final between two teams so close and knowing each other so well will have its share of irrationality, even more so in the Neapolitan oven. “Being here is already something important, but we want to move forward in this competition, we want to win. We will play to win without making too many calculations, while maintaining a certain balance”, Spalletti sketch. Diego-Maradona is already vibrating with the evening ahead. An evening as the Pibe de Oro would have liked and of which its distant successors will try to be worthy.
The Champions League quarter-final second leg between Naples and AC Milan will take place from 9 p.m. at the Diego-Maradona stadium, below Vesuvius.
The Champions League quarter-final second leg between Naples and AC Milan will be broadcast live, and exclusively, on beIN Sports 1.
The meeting between and Naples led Kvicha Kvaratshkelia and AC Milan guarded by Mike Maignan will be accessible in streaming on the MyCanal platform.
BetClic: Naples: 1.75 / Draw: 3.70 / AC Milan: 4.75
Sport bets: Naples: 1.77 / Draw: 3.65 / AC Milan: 4.70
Winamax: Napoli: 1.76 / Draw: 3.65 / AC Milan: 5.00
Naples: Meret – Di Lorenzo (cap.), Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Oliveira – Lobotka, Elmas, Zielinski – Lozano, Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen.
AC Milan: Maignan – Calabria (cap.), Tomori, Kjaer, Hernandez – Krunic, Tonali – Diaz, Bennacer, Leao – Giroud.