Bola.net – The 2022/2023 Champions League first leg quarter-final round presents AC Milan vs Napoli duel at the San Siro, Thursday (13/4/2023) early morning WIB. Milan won this match with a score of 1-0.
Milan’s only winning goal over Napoli in the first leg of the top 8 round was scored by Ismael Bennacer at the end of the first half.
Thanks to this result, Milan also increased their chances of advancing to the semifinals. However, there is still a second leg at home to Napoli next week.
A number of lessons can be taken from this match. Here’s the full review.
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Mike Maignan Is Patented
Mike Maignan caught the ball in the AC Milan vs Napoli match at the San Siro in the first leg of the 2022/2023 Champions League quarter-finals, Thursday (13/4/2023) early morning WIB. (c) AP Photo/Antonio Calanni
Milan is fortunate to have a great goalkeeper of the caliber of Mike Maignan. The goalkeeper from France once again showed extraordinary performance in goal.
Maignan recorded five saves, including when he thwarted Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s golden opportunity in the final minutes of the second half.
Milan will also greatly rely on Maignan’s expertise when he switches to the Napoli headquarters next week.
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Napoli Really Miss Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen’s celebration after scoring a goal in the Eintracht Frankfurt vs Napoli match, round of 16 of the 2022-2023 Champions League (c) AP Photo/Michael Probst
Admittedly, Napoli’s recent decline in performance has been more or less influenced by the absence of the goal machine, Victor Osimhen, who has been injured.
The same is true in this match. Eljif Elmas, who was plotted as a substitute, was unable to show the sharpness that Osimhen showed.
Now, Napoli really hopes that Osimhen will be fit to play in the second leg next week.
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Brilliant performance of Brahim Diaz
Brahim Diaz’s expression in the 2022/2023 Champions League match AC Milan vs Napoli, Thursday (13/4/2023) (c) AC Milan Official
Brahim Diaz is the main actor in creating Milan’s single goal. The Spanish midfielder made a solo run to build a quick counterattack. Diaz was also listed as an assist provider.
“He was instrumental in setting up the goal and had an immediate impact on it. Every time he had the ball there was that kind of brilliance that would always make the difference between two very well-balanced teams. He had an impact on the result, changing the momentum of play and having a fine technical execution. ” thus the UEFA panelist’s assessment of Diaz’s performance.
Overall, Brahim Diaz recorded sending one key pass, successfully dribbled four times out of five attempts, and won duels seven times.
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Milan Towards Semifinals?
Ismael Bennacer’s celebration in the 2022/2023 Champions League match AC Milan vs Napoli, Thursday (13/4/2023) (c) AP Photo/Luca Bruno
Even though they only won 1-0, what is certain is that Milan has a great chance to progress to the semifinals.
If it really comes true, then this will be Milan’s first semifinal in the Champions League since the 2006/2007 season, where at that time they continued to advance to become champions.
If they qualify for the semifinals, Milan will most likely face their city rivals, Inter Milan, who won 2-0 over Benfica in the first leg.
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Napoli Comeback Chance in the Second Leg
The referee rewarded Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa with a red card in the 2022/2023 Champions League match AC Milan vs Napoli, Thursday (13/4/2023) (c) AP Photo/Antonio Calanni
Milan may be winning 1-0 on aggregate, but Napoli still have a very good chance of making a comeback in next week’s second leg.
Napoli have the advantage, namely that they will play at home, and are supported by their loyal fans at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
However, Napoli must be worried because in the second leg they will not be able to play Frank Anguissa who was hit by a red card and Kim Min-Jae (accumulation of yellow cards).
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Player lineup
Duel Olivier Giroud and Kim Min-jae in the 2022/2023 Champions League match AC Milan vs Napoli, Thursday (13/4/2023) (c) AP Photo/Antonio Calanni
Milan: Mike Maignan; David Calabria, Simon Kjaer, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Sandro Tonali, Rade Chronicle; Brahim Diaz (Ante Rebic 80′), Ishmael Bennacer (Alexis Saelemaekers 67′), Rafael Leao; Olivier Giroud.
Coach: Stefano Pioli.
Napoli: Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Kim Min-Jae, Amir Rrahmani, Mario Rui (Mathias Olivera 81′); Frank Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, Piotr Zielinski (Matteo Politano 81′); Hirving Lozano (Giacomo Raspadori 69′), Eljif Elmas, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Tanguy Ndombele 81′).
Coach: Luciano Spalletti.
