A superb performance from the Spaniard pushed Milan into a commanding position for the return leg, with Bennacernetting the decisive goal.
“In our hands” read the chorus on the north curve of the San Siro, as Milan faced a determined Napoli. The visitors pushed hard, creating moments of danger in the early stages, but Milan’s defense, marshalled by Krunic and Calabria, thwarted Kvaratskhelia’s early efforts. Napoli pressed relentlessly in search of a goal, yet Milan’s counterattacks carried real threat.
In one flowing attack, Brahim Diaz started a move that echoed Kaká’s best days in these parts. He fed the ball to Rafael Leão on the right, who returned it to Brahim, and the Portuguese playmaker delivered a perfect assist for Bennacer to finish. The roar that greeted Bennacer’s substitution underscored his importance and sent a clear signal to the world about his role for the team in the Champions League campaign.
All the match details of Milan against Napoli in the Champions League are summarized here
The pattern persisted after the break, but Milan’s defense and goalkeeper Maignan kept Napoli at bay, preventing an equalizer. The evening tilted further in Milan’s favour when Anguissa received a second yellow card late on, reducing Napoli to ten men. The final whistle left Napoli pondering the tough path ahead as Maradona will remember this night in reverent terms.
MINUTE-BY-MINUTE FROM MILAN TO NAPOLI IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
VIDEOS AND NEWS FROM MILAN AGAINST NAPOLI IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
90 + 5 FINAL WHISTLE: MILAN GOES TO MARADONA WITH THE ADVANTAGE.
90 + 2 Leao again threatened, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
90 READY TO ADD ON: five minutes of stoppage time.
Brahim leaves the field to a warm ovation from the crowd, a deserved send-off after a commanding display.
75 Napoli sees Anguissa sent off after a second yellow for a dangerous challenge that halted a Milan counter. The road to a comeback grows steeper by the minute.
67 Change for Milan: Bennacer departs and Saelemaekers comes on.
52 Napoli starts the second half with intent, pressing high and seeking a goal to reset the match.
50 Napoli almost equalizes from a corner delivered by Kvaratskhelia, Elmas heads narrowly wide as Maignan watches closely and plucks the ball from danger.
The second half at San Siro becomes a fight for supremacy. Giroud shakes off lingering fitness issues as Milan look to seal the tie.
45 + 4 halftime break sees Milan ahead. Napoli players dispute several decisions, including one involving Mário Rui in a tense moment near the end of the half.
45 + 3 KJAER header hits the post at the end of the first period as Milan maintain their lead and look ahead to the second half.
45 Discount time: four minutes.
39 GOAL: Milan in front through a textbook counter. Brahim feeds Leão on the right, the Portuguese returns the ball, and Bennacer slots home to cap a sharp sequence.
35 The tempo drops slightly as Napoli initially started with intensity and Milan responded with measured counters. Giroud receives attention after a tough challenge from Kim.
Brahim’s crisp involvement
25 Leao bursts forward on a sprint, but his shot goes narrowly wide of the far post.
12 Maignan makes a vital save as Zielinski unleashes a powerful strike that is pushed away at full stretch, forcing a corner.
10 The visitors gain momentum early, with Di Lorenzo and Kvaratskhelia combining for a dangerous foray into Milan’s box.
2 Napoli strike early through Anguissa, a cross into the area finds Kvaratskhelia for a sharp strike that beats Calabria and Krunic and then is finished by Mário Rui’s follow-up effort. Milan nearly fall behind inside minutes of kick-off.
1 The ball is rolling in San Siro as Milan and Napoli begin a historic encounter with everything at stake.
And this is Milan’s starting lineup.
With these eleven, Napoli faced Milan with a clear plan to prevail.
I NOSTRI 11: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Minjae, Mario Rui, Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski, Lozano, Elmas, Kvaratskhelia. #MilanNapoli #UCL #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/XJRcQ96Sup
—Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) April 12, 2023
SUMMARY OF MILAN AGAINST NAPOLI IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
ALL FIGURES AND STATISTICS FROM MILAN AGAINST NAPOLI IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Source: Goal