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

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.

Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan made a series of impressive stops, in particular late on when he clawed out Giovanni Di Lorenzo's effort just as the more than 70,000 home fans were celebrating victory.

But Bennacer's strike was just enough to give Milan hopes of their first Champions League semi-final since they were crowned kings of Europe for the seventh and most recent time in 2007.

That prospect will be all the more mouth-watering for Milan fans as their likely opponents would be local rivals Inter following their convincing win at Benfica on Tuesday.

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