Champions League Quarterfinals Second Leg: Napoli – Milan

Milan scored early, courtesy of Diaz, and hung on to beat Napoli 1-0 in the quarter finals first leg. The second leg will have Milan trying to reach the semi finals of the Champions League and grab a relative big sum of cash that comes with it.

The lineup will likely remain unchanged from the one that beat Napoli at the San Siro as Milan try to replicate the match and eliminate the Serie A leaders from the UEFA competition. Bennacer playing a more advanced role in front of Krunic and Tonali worked well and may be tried again. Diaz pushed to the right has looked very good as well. Giroud is carrying a knock but word is he will be available. This means the starting 11 is likely to be Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Theo; Krunic, Tonali; Diaz, Bennacer, Leao; and Giroud.

Napoli missed their leading scorer last week but Victor Osimhen makes a return from injury to face Milan. However, several other Napoli players will miss this match through suspension and injury. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was sent off versus Milan and Kim Min-jae got himself suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Giovanni Simeone is expected to be sidelined due to injury.

The animosity between the two 11s and indeed the coaches and management as well has grown as the teams are meeting for the third time in a few short days. Spalletti and Maldini’s confrontation after the first leg has been making headlines as has Napoli fans’ insults hurled at Theo and other Milan players.

There is always more about this match and others on the forums.