Bennacer goal gives AC Milan Champions League quarter-final first-leg advantage over 10-man Napoli side
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Updated 12/04/2023 at 22:11 GMT
AC Milan beat fellow Italian side Napoli 1-0 at San Siro in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg on Wednesday evening. Ismael Bennacer’s powerful first-half strike gave Milan the advantage. Things went from bad to worse for Napoli when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa saw red for a second yellow card. Napoli host Milan in the second leg next week on April 18.
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AC Milan had their backs to the wall for large chunks of their Champions League quarter-final against Napoli, but will take a 1-0 lead into the second leg thanks to Ismael Bennacer’s goal.
The visitors, who finished with 10 men after having Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sent off in the second half, missed a catalogue of chances as they dominated for long periods at the San Siro, and were ultimately left frustrated.
It took less than 60 seconds for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to have the first opening, although his shot was cleared off the line, while Anguissa and Piotr Zielinski were denied by home goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
At the other end, Stefano Pioli’s side failed to register a shot until the 26th minute, when Rafael Leao burst from his own half and had held off two defenders before ultimately sliding wide of the far post.
Milan took the lead with their next effort though, as Bennacer hammered home from inside the box just moments before half-time after a run from inside his own half by Brahim Diaz.
Simon Kjaer then rattled the bar with a bullet header in first half injury-time.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, with Napoli camped in their opponent's half, only for Maignan to save from Eljif Elmas and Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
The main talking point after the break though was a card-happy referee who seemed to issue bookings at every opportunity. That included a pair of yellows for Anguissa, coming within four minutes of each other, which means he will sit out the second leg, as will Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae.
The return leg takes place on Tuesday, April 18.
TALKING POINT - Osimhen’s absence a worry for Napoli
Any team would miss a striker with the quality of Victor Osimhen, but Napoli’s attacking woes without their top scorer were laid bare in this clash.
The striker, who has netted 25 times this season, has pace and power to burn, as well as a happy knack of being in the right place at the right time.
He is currently out with a muscle injury, and Luciano Spalletti will be desperate to have him back for the second leg, because in his absence the visitors missed a hatful of chances, while they struggled to make the ball stick upfront.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Davide Calabria (AC Milan). Kvaratskhelia is one of the best players in Europe at the moment, so Calabria knew he had his work cut out when he stepped onto the San Siro turf tonight.
However, he put in a near faultless performance, particularly after the break, as he kept the winger quiet, not allowing him to cut inside and show his trademark trickery and pace.
Indeed, it’s a tribute to how well the defender performed from his right-back berth that Kvaratskhelia was ultimately withdrawn, and cast a frustrated figure, in the second half.
PLAYER RATINGS
AC MILAN: Maignan 8; Calabria 8, Kjaer 7, Tomori 7, Hernandez 7; Krunic 6, Bennacer 7, Tonali 6; Daiz 6, Giroud 6, Leao 7. Subs: Saelemaekers 7, Rebic n/a
NAPOLI: Meret 6; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Lozano 6, Kvaratskhelia, Elmas. Subs: Raspadori 6, Ndombele n/a, Olivera n/a
KEY MOMENTS
1’ HUGE EARLY CHANCE. How did that not go in? The ball comes to Kvaratskhelia at the back post after a collection of defensive errors, but his low shot gets cleared off the line. Massive let off for Milan
26’ LEAO COMES CLOSE. Wow! What a goal that would have been! Rafael Leao picks the ball up in his own half and bursts forward, using great strength to hold off two tackles before sliding a shot wide of the far post.
40’ GOAL! AC MILAN 1-0 NAPOLI (Bennacer). AC Milan take the lead! The San Siro erupts! Ismael Bennacer crashes into the back of the net from inside the area after the hosts counter-attacked through Brahim Diaz, before Leao crossed into the box.
45+4’ OFF THE BAR. Consider the woodwork rattled! Kjaer meets a corner with an absolute bullet of a header that smashes into the bar and somehow doesn't go over the line
74’ RED CARD - ANGUISSA SENT OFF. Just minutes after he picked up his first yellow card, Frank Anguissa earns a second for a tackle on Hernandez. That looks very, very harsh to me. The midfielder appears to get a foot on the ball
KEY STATS
- AC Milan have kept five successive clean sheets in the Champions League
- This is the first time in nine meetings between Napoli and AC Milan that there has been a home win
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