AC Milan 'confident' of Champions League progress after taking first-leg lead over Napoli

13.04.2023 - 05:05 thenationalnews.com

AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli said his team will travel to Napoli for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final full of "confidence" after securing a 1-0 advantage at the San Siro on Wednesday.

Algeria midfielder Ismael Bennacer scored the decisive strike five minutes before half-time of an engaging first leg at a packed, loud and wet San Siro after Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao combined brilliantly.

Bennacer's second goal of the season ensured Milan's second win over Italy's champions-elect Napoli in less than a fortnight and a narrow lead to defend at the Stadio Maradona in Naples next week. "It will be a great return leg with a lot of tension and emotion," said Pioli to Amazon Prime. "We performed at a level worthy of the Champions League ...

we'll go to Naples with confidence and concentration high, we know how difficult it will be down there." Napoli, who had midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sent off in the 74th minute and will be without centre-back Kim Min-jae for the second leg, will have Victor Osimhen back for the second leg on Tuesday, and without their star striker Luciano Spalletti's team got nothing despite having plenty of chances.

Benfica Ac Milan Stefano Pioli Ismael Bennacer Giovanni Di-Lorenzo Rafael Leao Frank Zambo Anguissa Luciano Spalletti Mike Maignan Kim Min Italy Algeria Naples

Napoli are on the brink of claiming their first Serie A title in 33 years despite failing to win at home last weekend, and they may not even have to play to get their hands on the Scudetto this week and kick off a long-awaited party in Naples.

Napoli ready to end long wait for Italian title

A man walks past a graffiti depicting Argentine’s football legend Diego Maradona, with flags, banners and a papier mache model of Naples’s football players (up), in the colors of Napoli, decorating the Quartieri Case Nuove in central Naples on April 29, 2023, on the eve of the Italian Serie A football match between Napoli and Salernitana. – Naples, as the city braces up for its potential first Scudetto championship win in 33 years. An incredible 19 points clear at the top of Serie A, it’s surely only a matter of time until southern Italy’s biggest club win the Scudetto for the first time since 1990, when Diego Maradona was still strutting his stuff in sight of Mount Vesuvius. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP)

Napoli's Title Party Put On Hold After Salernitana Draw

Napoli will have to wait a little longer to seal their first Serie A title in 33 years after being held to a 1-1 draw by Salernitana on Sunday. Runaway league leaders Napoli needed to win to secure their third league crown with six games remaining in the season after Inter Milan beat closest challengers Lazio 3-1 earlier in the day. And Naples thought a generation of frustration was set to come to an end when Mathias Olivera headed the hosts into the lead just after the hour mark.

Salernitana hold Napoli to a draw, delaying title party

NAPLES :Leaders Napoli were held to a 1-1 home draw after a late goal by Salernitana forward Boulaye Dia cancelled out Mathias Olivera's header, denying Luciano Spalletti's side of early title celebrations at their home ground.

Napoli ready to end long wait for Italian title

NAPLES, Italy: Napoli can finally end a 33-year wait for the Serie A title on Sunday when they take on Salernitana with potentially one more win enough to take them over the line. Authorities in Naples are steeling themselves for a wave of partying should the current crop of stars emulate Diego Maradona and seal a third Scudetto for Napoli, with fans ready to unleash an explosion of joy after three decades of pent-up frustration.

Osimhen leads celebrations as Napoli near first Serie A title in 25 years

Osimhen celebrating on top of the club’s bus after Napoli’s 1-0 defeat of Juventus… on Sunday