With a 1-0 home victory against Napoli in the quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday, Ismael Bennacer’s goal helped AC Milan move a step closer to reaching their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years.
The quarterfinal matchup of Europe’s most prestigious club championship had Serie A leaders Napoli taking against seven-time European champions Milan on a soggy night.
After his team preserved a fifth straight clean sheet in the Champions League for the first time since 2004-05, AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli told reporter “I am above all happy to enjoy evenings like this with our fans.”
Although Milan has a long history of Champions League triumphs, in recent years we have dreamed of being here and wanted to take it all in.
We gave Napoli the opportunity to harm us early on because we didn’t build out properly from the back, but we eventually prevailed at home for the first time in three years.
Napoli swiftly pressed in an effort to revenge their 4-0 home loss to Milan in the Serie A this month.
When the Milan defence failed to clear a low ball across the goal, Napoli had their first opportunity, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s shot was stopped on the line.
Piotr Zielinski, a midfielder for Napoli, sent a powerful shot towards goal, but Milan custodian Mike Maignan deflected it over the crossbar.
Rafael Leao, a striker for Milan, created the team’s first opportunity when he received the ball in his own half and made a lone run into the Napoli box before firing just wide of the far post.
The hosts seized the lead five minutes before halftime when Brahim Diaz set up Bennacer, who sent a low effort inside the far post despite Napoli controlling the most of the first half.
When Simon Kjaer’s header hit the crossbar and fell to the ground, the referee signalled that the ball had not crossed the goal line, denying Milan the chance to increase their advantage.
16 minutes before the end, Napoli’s plight deteriorated when midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was given a second caution for shoving Theo Hernandez.
Four to Milan and six to Napoli were given yellow cards by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs, who also disqualified Kim Min-jae of Napoli from playing in the second leg.
“At this point in the season, any absence is detrimental, but we also have players who can step in, which is why we are where we are. The team has our faith. Although it feels unfair to be without Anguissa, we are upset about it but there is nothing we can do, Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
“It is sad that it took us a minute or two to think about who to replace, and I wasn’t paying enough attention to the referee, because we were about to substitute Anguissa when it happened. It is not my responsibility to make comments on the referee.
Although Napoli had more shots on goal than Milan and more opportunities overall, they were without Serie A’s leading scorer Victor Osimhen because of a thigh injury.
Prior to the second leg of the quarterfinal on April 18, Milan is the only side to have defeated Napoli more than once this season across all competitions.
