Bennacer gives Milan first blood in Champions League derby with Napoli

12.04.2023 - 23:29 arabnews.com

MILAN: AC Milan have the slenderest of advantages in their all-Italian Champions League quarterfinal after Ismael Bennacer fired his team to a 1-0 win over wasteful Napoli on Wednesday.

Algeria midfielder Bennacer lashed in the decisive strike five minutes before halftime of an engaging first leg at a packed, loud and wet San Siro after Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao combined brilliantly.

The 25-year-old’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 Milan coach Stefano 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 Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sent off in the 74th minute and will be without Kim Min-jae for the second leg, should 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.

UK Stefano Pioli Ismael Bennacer Giovanni Di-Lorenzo Rafael Leao Frank Zambo Anguissa Luciano Spalletti Mike Maignan Kim Min Britain France Italy Algeria Naples Ireland Saudi Arabia county Thomas

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

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