MILAN —Ismael Bennacer gave AC Milan a 1-0 first-leg advantage in their Champions League quarterfinal against Napoli following a tough defensive battle against the Serie A leaders.
Bennacer’s left-foot strike on 40 minutes was the difference between the two teams, but it was a costly night for Napoli who lost midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa to a sending off in the second-half.
And with city rivals Internazionale winning their first-leg against Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday, Milan kept alive the prospect of a Milan derby in the semifinals by sealing their win against Napoli.
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Rapid reaction
1. Milan gain crucial advantage as Napoli falter
AC Milan’s hopes of an eighth Champions League title are still alive after Stefano Pioli’s team withstood incessant Napoli pressure to seal a 1-0 first-leg quarterfinal victory at San Siro.
Despite being 22 points behind runaway leaders Napoli in Serie A, Milan will travel to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for next Tuesday’s second-leg with a narrow advantage after Bennacer’s 40th minute goal sealed their win.
But Napoli only have themselves to blame for the defeat. Head coach Luciano Spalletti’s team dominated possession and missed a catalogue of chances, starting with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia‘s failure to score from three yards after just 52 seconds.
They also ended the game with ten men after midfielder Anguissa was sent off for two yellow cards. He will miss next week’s second-leg through suspension, as will key defender Kim Min-Jae, whose booking in this game rules him out of the return fixture.
Milan owed their win to a series of top-class saves by goalkeeper Mike Maignan and the invention of midfielder Brahim Diaz, whose run from the centre-circle to the edge of the Napoli penalty area led to the only goal of the game. Diaz’s pass to Rafael Leao was instantly played out to Bennacer, whose left-foot shot beat goalkeeper Alex Meret at the near post.
Eljif Elmas hit the crossbar for Napoli in the second-half and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo also went close to scoring, but Spalletti’s team couldn’t find an equaliser.
But this tie is delicately poised and Napoli will still be favourites to go through due to home advantage next week. One thing for certain is that it will be a night to remember in Naples — but for who is yet to be decided.
