48
22:09
There was an unusual amount of action in the first half for a duel between two Italian teams. How does the leadership of the Lombards affect this encounter?
46
22:07
Let’s continue in Giuseppe-Meazza! There are no personnel changes on either side for the time being.
46
22:07
Kick-off 2nd half
45+4
21:55
Mid-term conclusion:
An exciting and intense first round is over! AC Milan are 1-0 ahead of SSC Napoli in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League. The Parthenopeans clearly set the tone from the start and missed a number of the best opportunities. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in particular should have given the visitors the lead in the first minute. Instead, the home side pulled themselves together and indicated their danger in the transition game via Rafael Leão (26th). Shortly before the break, Ismaël Bennacer used another counterattack (40′), before Simon Kjær almost scored the second goal (45+3′).
45+4
21:51
End of 1st half
45+3
21:51
Suddenly Naples shakes, but Simon Kjær only scores transom! A corner kick from the left flies into the penalty area and finds the Dane in the six-yard box. Kjær’s powerful header hits the underside of the bar and bounces well in front of the line.
45+1
21:48
Of course, the Lombards have now gained self-confidence! Olivier Giroud keeps three opponents at bay in the penalty area and serves Sandro Tonali, who misses the goal.
45
21:47
Official stoppage time (minutes): 4
43
21:45
Yellow card for Stefano Pioli (AC Milan)
AC coach Stefano Pioli complains diligently because a foul against Theo Hernández is not called – that gives a yellow card.
40
21:41
Tooor for AC Milan, 1-0 through Ismaël Bennacer
The hosts mercilessly exploit a counterattack and turn the course of the game upside down! Brahim Díaz asserts himself in midfield, driving the ball deep into the opposition half and taking Rafael Leão with him. His cross pass at the edge of the penalty area rolls over to Ismaël Bennacer, who makes the first contact on the half-left and overcomes Alex Meret in the near corner.
39
21:40
In the meantime, the intensity in the duels has increased. Because the players of both teams often overshoot the target, there are some interruptions.
38
21:39
Piotr Zieliński (SSC Napoli) is shown a yellow card.
Piotr Zieliński roughly pulls Rade Krunić off his feet and collects the yellow card.
35
21:37
Olivier Giroud was sent off after a foul by Min-jae Kim. Apparently, the French can continue after a short break in treatment.
33
21:35
The hosts are becoming more active. Rafael Leão has plenty of space on the left and swings in the cross. Brahim Díaz is a step late at the far post.
30
21:33
What Rafael Leão’s run has shown, however, is that the Rossoneri are capable of scoring at any time, no matter what the odds are.
28
21:29
Now both teams take a moment to breathe – completely understandable after this intensive initial phase.
26
21:28
Out of nowhere, Rafael Leão has the Milan lead on his toes! The Portuguese only accidentally puts the ball in the run because of a basically botched assumption. Starting from his own half, Leão ignites the turbo, runs past everyone, penetrates the half-left of the penalty area and ultimately misses the bottom right corner.
23
21:24
Now the Lombards are hiding deep in their own half and condensing the spaces. Naples currently has a lot of possession and is waiting for a suitable gap.
20
21:21
A quick look at the statistics makes the current balance of power clear. The SSC leads with 7:0 shots on goal and is also clearly in the lead when it comes to duels.
18
21:19
The push forward of the Neapolitans is not a big surprise at all. The guests are extremely dangerous in this Champions League season and have the best offensive in the premier class with 25 goals.
15
21:16
From Milan’s point of view, the only good news at the moment is that it’s actually still 0-0.
13.
21:14
Next big thing! After Ismaël Bennacer lost the ball, Luciano Spalletti’s team switched quickly and put Piotr Zieliński in the spotlight. The Pole shoots from a central 20 meters and forces goalkeeper Mike Maignan to intervene, who steers the powerful attempt over the bar with one hand.
11.
21:12
But Naples remains extremely courageous here! Irresistibly Khvicha Kvaratskhelia pulls into the box from the left and plays a one-two with Eljif Elmas. Finally, a deflected shot by the Georgian jumps wide of the target.
8th.
21:09
After the very committed start of the Parthenopeans, Milan now brings calm into the game and lets the ball circulate.
5.
21:08
And immediately the guests again: The following Ekball from Hirving Lozano reaches the advanced Giovanni Di Lorenzo at the near post, who heads over it from around eight meters.
3.
21:06
Apparently Naples has big plans and is about to make steam! Now Milan keeper Mike Maignan is challenged for the first time and deflects a long-range shot from Frank Anguissa over the crossbar.
1.
21:05
Crazy, the guests can sniff the lead after just 57 seconds big chance but lie pretty miserably! An actually harmless cross from Frank Anguissa rolled to the left pentagon because Rade Krunić fell asleep completely. However, Krunić just scratched the half-hearted finish of the onrushing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia off the line and ironed out his mistake.
1.
21:01
It starts in Giuseppe-Meazza – the experienced István Kovács from Romania is the referee!
20:43
Due to the absence of Victor Osimhen, Napoli are without a real centre-forward. At Milan, Malick Thiaw, who was recently called up to the German national team for the first time by national coach Hansi Flick, is only on the bench.
20:31
Guest trainer Luciano Spalletti meanwhile struggled with the draw and pushed the slight favorite role away. “I would rather not have played against an Italian team. Milan feel comfortable in the Champions League and only Real Madrid have won this title more often. Milan are the favorites based on experience,” stressed the Italian. The winner of this quarter-final is waiting in the semi-finals for the winner of the duel between Inter Milan and Benfica Lisbon.
20:23
In the run-up, Stefano Pioli spoke about the logical plan and built on his club’s history in big games. “We’re in the quarter-finals and we’re AC Milan, of course we want to go through. Napoli are a strong side and they’re better than us in La Liga, but this is the Champions League and Milan is Milan,” said the 57-year-old. But the Lombards also want to polish up a weak balance sheet. The Rossoneri have won just three of their last 16 European knockout games.
20:16
Even for the first time in its history, Napoli has reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The Parthenopeans previously dismantled the reigning Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0, 3-0) and, according to some experts, are now considered one of the favorites for the title. However, an elementary piece of the team’s puzzle is missing: Victor Osimhen, who scored an impressive 21 goals in 23 games in the league, is currently suffering from an adductor injury and has to sit out the first leg.
20:08
There is no clear favourite. Milan recently surprised in Serie A with a 4-0 away win at Naples. Nevertheless, the Lombards are a whopping 22 points behind their league rivals. Because coach Stefano Pioli’s team is no longer fighting for the title and the club is already out of the national cup, the full focus is now on the premier class. There, the Rossoneri is in the quarter-finals for the first time in more than ten years.
20:00
Have a wonderful good evening and welcome to the quarter-finals of the Champions League! In the all-Italian duel, AC Milan is fighting against SSC Napoli to progress. The first leg begins at 9 p.m. in the legendary Giuseppe-Meazza.