MIL
AC Milan
1
FT
0
NAP
Napoli
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AC Milan vs. Napoli score: Ismael Bennacer takes control of UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg

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AC Milan will take a 1-0 lead to Naples next week after beating Napoli 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg at San Siro on Wednesday. Ismael Bennacer scored the only goal of the game after 40 minutes as Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa saw red for two second half bookings to make life tough for Luciano Spalletti's Serie A leaders.

Stefano Pioli's men rode out a tricky opening period which saw Napoli test Mike Maignan and go close to the Milan goal on a few occasions, but the Rossoneri turned the tide midway through the first half. Brahim Diaz brilliantly turned his man to create a lethal counter attack for Milan which Bennacer thumped home from a Rafael Leao assist.

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It could have been two just before the break as Simon Kjaer saw a powerful header come back off the crossbar as the San Siro was rocking. They might not have added a second goal on home soil, but Milan did win two other key battles as Anguissa saw red for two quickfire bookings and then Kim Min-Jae was cautioned which means he is suspended for the return leg.

Ultimately, Napoli will have been relieved to have not fallen further behind in the tie and still have Victor Osimhen's return to hope for ahead of their return to Naples. However, early chances could have been taken and Spalletti and his side will rue those wasted openings -- notably Kvicha Kvaratskhelia having an effort cleared off the line in the opening minutes.

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FT: Milan 1-0 Napoli

A slim advantage, but an advantage all the same. The Rossoneri lead thanks to Bennacer's goal and Anguissa's red card means that Spalletti's side finished with 10 men. Kim will also miss next week's second leg although Osimhen could be back by then.

 
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Napoli still pushing

Despite being down to 10 men, the visitors keep trying to find an equalizer and go close again with Maignan denying Di Lorenzo. The Frenchman worth his weight in gold between the sticks. Tempers flaring too with Milan denied a late penalty shout.

 
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Red card!

Napoli are down to 10 men here. Zambo Anguissa sent off for two quickfire red cards. Spalletti livid on the touchline. Not ideal for the vistors as they chase Milan. 

 
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An hour in

Past the 60-minute mark now and Milan still lead 1-0. Napoli rallied early this half, but need more if they are to salvage a draw here ahead of the second leg.

 
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Back underway

Milan lead 1-0 as the second 45 gets started. Napoli need a reaction after falling behind. Big second half coming up!

 
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HT: Milan 1-0 Napoli

The hosts lead through Bennacer's brilliant opener. Kjaer's header very nearly doubled that advantage just before the break. The visitors started well, but faded towards half-time. The first 15-20 minutes of this second half will be very interesting. Milan lead for now and are decent value for it based on those last 20-25 minutes.

 
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Milan hit the bar!

Thumping Kjaer header comes back off the woodwork. Almost 2-0 to the hosts! 

 
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Milan lead 1-0!

The hosts draw first blood and Napoli are made to pay for missing their earlier chances. Bennacer fires home after a lethal break led by Diaz and aided by Leao! Brilliant turn in the middle of the park by Brahim takes the visiting midfield out of the game. San Siro is absolutely rocking right now!

 
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Leao so close

Milan's turn to finally make Napoli sweat. Leao puts his effort just inches wide of the woodwork after a great run. Hope for the home side that they can yet take control of this one.

 
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Napoli stronger so far

Much like Inter away at Benfica in Lisbon last night, the visitors have made the better start so far. Kvaratskhelia has been particularly lively. Will Milan make Spalletti's side regret not taking some of their early openings, though?

 
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Early Napoli chance!

The game has literally just kicked off in Milan and the fans are creating a superb atmosphere. This one promises to be absorbing over 180 minutes or more. Kvaratskhelia already has a shot cleared off the line! Maignan then tips over from Anguissa. Some start this from Napoli!

 
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Pre-game quotes

Napoli counterpart Spalletti: "We need to enjoy the evening, as these are nights we must relish in their totality. If you earn your place in this evening with hard work, sweat and sacrifice, you must not have any regrets, you go out there and play. When you are dealing with squads of this level, and I am talking about my own as well as Milan, there are many champions in there. Champions manage to sort out what is missing in others, because that is what makes them champions. Just as at the start of the season we were missing great players and those who came in sorted it out, I expect the same today. If we manage to amass 20 more Serie A points than an opponent we face in the Champions League quarter-final, it means we deserved to be here. I know many coaches, especially at my age, I've been around for a while. I respect many of them for what they have achieved, their knowledge of the game and the quality of their work. Pioli is one of them."

Milan boss Pioli: "I see a great game with many exciting moments and we'll try to interpret it in the best way. I won't feel the pressure, no, only the pride of being here. We represent a great club that has made history in this competition and we will try to honour it. The perfect game does not exist, anyone who plays football will make mistakes. We need to play at a high level, certainly, and know a single incident can change the game. To play with clear minds and strong heart. The lads know full well what we did to get here. The approach, the determination, the energy that we put onto the pitch will certainly be at the right level."

Napoli sporting director Giuntoli: "It is very exciting, these lads showed in the past that they can overcome the highest obstacles and we are confident. Great results and credit are to be shared between everyone, from the President to the staff, the coach to the players. The patron has done extraordinary things, taking a team from the third division to the top of Europe. The President and his intuitions deserve a lot of praise. We did expect Napoli to be strong this season, but perhaps not quite this strong. We were counting on being competitive, but we didn't even dream of reaching this level. If you don't think about things, they don't happen, and we are thinking."

 
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What to know

This is only Napoli's second European tie against Italian opponents. The first came in the quarterfinals of their victorious UEFA Cup campaign in 1988-89, when they went down 2-0 at Juventus in the first leg but turned the tie round in Naples thanks to goals from Diego Maradona, Andrea Carnevale and, in the 119th minute, Alessandro Renica.

The last six Serie A games between the clubs have ended in an away win. With the three preceding fixtures ending in a draw, there has not been a home league victory since Napoli's 3-2 success on the opening day of the Serie A season on 25 August 2018.

Milan have featured in all three of the previous all-Italian contests, beating neighbours Inter on away goals in the 2002-03 semifinals (0-0 h, 1-1 a) and Juventus in the final (0-0 aet, 3-2 pens). They also overcame Inter 5-0 on aggregate in the 2004-05 quarter-finals (2-0 h, 3-0 a forfeit).

Milan have won four of their previous nine games against Italian clubs in UEFA competition, losing only one. That sole defeat came against Parma in the second leg of the 1994 UEFA Super Cup (1-0 a, 0-2 h).

 
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Confirmed XIs

Milan: Maignan; Calabria (c), Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez; Krunic, Tonali; Brahim, Bennacer, Leao; Giroud.

Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo (c), Rrahmani, Kim, Mario Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Lozano, Elmas, Kvaratskhelia.

 
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How they got here

This season, AC Milan picked up ten points in Group E to finish third behind Chelsea, who beat them 3-0 at Stamford Bridge and 2-0 at San Siro, clinching second place thanks to 4-0 victories in each of their last two games, at Dinamo Zagreb and at home to Salzburg. They then edged past Tottenham in the round of 16, Brahim Díaz's seventh-minute strike in the first leg at San Siro proving to be the only goal of the tie.

Napoli, on the other hand, kicked off with an impressive 4-1 win at home to the 2021-22 runners-up Liverpool, before two wins against both Rangers (3-0 a, 3-0 h) and Ajax (6-1 a, 4-2 h). A 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Matchday 6 ended Napoli's 11-game unbeaten run in UEFA Champions League group games (W8 D3) but was not enough to prevent them finishing top of Group A after they had ended level with Liverpool on 15 points. Eintracht Frankfurt were then defeated in Germany (2-0) and Italy (3-0) in the round of 16, with Victor Osimhen scoring three goals across the tie.

 
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Osimhen and Simeone absences

Napoli pair Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Simeone did not make the Napoli squad and will not be available feature at San Siro (you can catch the action only on Paramount+). Napoli's two main strikers are both unavailable as they are recovering from their recent injuries and Spalletti will have to deal with the absences of the two forwards. Ex-Sassuolo striker Giacomo Raspadori will lead the attacking line for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. 

Osimhen is suffering from a muscular injury he picked up during the International break with Nigeria, but he is expected to be back for the second leg. Simeone, though, limped off just 17 minutes after coming off the bench last Friday against Lecce and medical examinations showed a first degree strain of the right hamstring. The Argentine striker was supposed to play as a starter against Milan on Wednesday but he is now expected to miss the rest of the month and will not even be available for the second leg. Raspadori will be the starting central striker, alongside Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. 

Napoli fans had hoped to see Osimhen playing against the Rossoneri on Wednesday, but Napoli's owner Aurelio De Laurentiis himself announced to some fans, as reported by La Repubblica, that the player was not ready to play: "Victor is not in a position to play, unfortunately. We hope to have him back at the latest for the return match on April 18 at the Maradona," he said.

 
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Predicted lineups

AC Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Tonali, Krunic; Brahim Diaz, Bennacer, Leao; Giroud.

Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Mario Rui; Lobotka, Anguissa, Zielinski; Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia. 

 
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Welcome 

Thank you for tuning in to our coverage of AC Milan vs. Napoli in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. We will be bringing you team news and pre-game analysis shortly. Feel free to tune in to our Paramount+ build-up too.