Champions League G. Meazza Stadium Milan-Napoli Quarter-finals
Index
Presentation of the match
Milan plays with Maignan in goal, defense with Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Theo Fernandez, midfield Krunic, Tonali, Bennacer, Diaz, Leao, Giroud in attack. 4-2-3-1 game form
Napoli in goal Meret, defense Di Lorenzo, Kim, Rrahmani, Mario Rui, midfield with Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski, attack Lozano, Elmas, Kvaraskelia. 4-3-3 game form
Referee: Kovacs (Romania)
Match commentary
First half
start of the match in favor of Napoli who already in the 1st minute go close to the net with Kvaraskelia, who sees Krunic’s shot rejected on the goal line. In the 4th minute, another opportunity for Napoli with a shot from the edge of Anguissa which Maignan opposes by deflecting for a corner. In the 12th minute Napoli nearly scored with Zielinski and his shot was deflected for a corner by Maignan. Crackling start from the Neapolitans. In the 24th minute Milan’s first action with Leao who crosses the whole field with the ball at his feet, enters the area and kicks his shot just wide.
In the 37th minute Zielinski was booked for a foul on an opponent’s restart. In the 42nd minute Milan took the lead with Bennacer, who received a ball from Leao inside the area and with a very strong shot put it behind Meret, 1-0 for the Rossoneri. In the 47th minute there is still a great opportunity for Milan who hit the crossbar with Kjear. At 49′ the final whistle of the first half.
Very nice first half, with strong territorial supremacy by Napoli, but it was Milan who sank the winning shot on a counter-attack.
Second half
Napoli got off to a strong start right away and in the 49th minute hit the crossbar with a header from Elmas. On the 53rd occasion for Di Lorenzo whose shot was sent for a corner by Maignan. In the 60th minute Bennacer was booked for a foul play against an opponent.
In the 68th minute, Anguissa shot wide. In the 70th minute Anguissa was booked for having held back an opponent launched into the net. In the 73rd minute Di Lorenzo was booked for unsporting behaviour. In the 74th minute Anguissa was sent off for a second yellow card. In the 79th minute Kim was booked for unsporting behaviour. On the 88th occasion for Napoli with Di Lorenzo, great save by Maignan. In the 95th minute the Romanian referee Kovacs whistled.
Final comment
Milan wins the first round of this quarter-final, at the end of a very hard-fought game, in which Napoli proved they don’t deserve the defeat. When they return in a week, the Neapolitans will certainly try to exploit the home factor, to try to reach a semi-final of the Champions League which would be historic for Spalletti’s team.
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