AC Milan 1-0 Napoli – Champions League highlights
AC Milan 1-0 Napoli – Champions League highlights as Ismael Bennacer scored the only goal to give Rossoneri advantage through first leg’s victory.
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AC Milan 1-0 Napoli – Highlights
Without Victor Osimhen for injury, the Naples side still proved to be the dominant force at San Siro, but the host got what they wanted after 40 minutes when Bennacer delivered the sucker punch.
Two sides exchanged chances after chances, forcing the fans to hold their breath from the first minute.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia led the visitor’s attack line and almost delivered if it hadn’t been for Rade Krunic’s goal-line block.
Anguissa and Piotr Zielinksi both forced smart Mike Maignan to be at his best, before Rafael Leao wasted a glorious chance by firing Milan’s first opportunity wide.
Leao’s chance was the warning for what came later, as as Brahim Diaz exchanged passes with Leao and flicked towards Bennacer, who smashed a left-footed strike past Napoli’s goalkeeper to break the deadlock.
The Algerian first Champions League goal was the game-changer, since Napoli, who since then struggled and were in deeper crisis as Frank Anguissa dismissed in the second half, could not respond.
The Cameroonian midfielder received his two quickfire yellow cards and left his side only 10-man with a goal conceded.
What to expect in the second leg
The advantage, though is slender, but might just be good enough for Stefano Pioli’s side to dream of their first semi-final in decades.
Meanwhile, Luciano Spalletti is desperate to have his talisman Osimhen back fit for the return at Maradona stadium a week later.
Earlier in the Serie A, Milan handed Napoli a 4-0 defeat – their heaviest league defeat since December 2007 and their biggest margin of defeat in a home Serie A game since October 2000.
Milan also had to improve and rely less on fortune in the return leg. But if this can give Napoli’s fans some hope, they have lost just one of 10 all-Italian match-ups in Europe (W5 D4).
Next up
Before the return meeting at home, Napoli host Verona in Serie A on Saturday, while Milan kick off at Bologna.