Napoli 1-1 AC Milan: AC Milan qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday evening at the expense of Napoli. After the 1-0 in Milan, the 1-1 draw in Stadio Diego Maradona was enough for the Rossoneri.
Back at the top: AC Milan knocks Napoli out of the Champions League
Napoli is unprecedentedly dominant in Serie A, but lost the first leg in Milan. A big boost for the Neapolitans was that top scorer Victor Osimhen returned to the base for the return on Tuesday. The home team started the game in good spirits and the first opportunities followed.
However, it was Milan that had the chance to score the opening goal in the 22nd minute. Mário Rui floored Rafael Leão and so the ball hit the spot. Giroud took his responsibility, but did not take the penalty well. Napoli goalkeeper Meret was able to save without major problems. The 26-year-old Italian was again in the way of Giroud a few minutes later, this time he saved with his foot.
The only goal of the fixture
Giroud experienced such a dramatic evening, but his moment came just before the break, thanks to Leão. The Portuguese picked up the ball ten meters outside his own penalty area and then crossed the entire field. He played three Neapolitans and finally handed the ball on a silver platter to Giroud, who gratefully scored the 0-1.
Napoli tried, but couldn’t get the ball past Maignan. Not even when the visitors were awarded a penalty ten minutes before the end. A cross from Giovanni di Lorenzo hit Fikayo Tomori’s arm. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia claimed the ball, but he also failed from eleven meters: Maignan turned his effort.
In the 93rd minute, Osimhen gave the Milanese a fright when he headed in the 1-1, but that goal came too late for Napoli. AC Milan thus qualifies for the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2007, when the tournament was won. For Napoli, which has 22 points more than Milan in Serie A, the tournament is over.
A meeting with fellow townsman Internazionale may be waiting for Milan in the semifinals. The Nerazzurri will defend the 0-2 win from the first game with Benfica in-house on Wednesday evening.
