Valery Gladilin, a recognized Russian expert and former player who once coached Spartak Moscow, offered insights on Napoli’s 1-0 loss to Milan in the Champions League quarterfinals first leg. He pointed out that Napoli missed the impact of Victor Osimhen, who was sidelined by injury. Yet Gladilin cautioned that the outcome remains unsettled for both teams; Napoli and Milan each still hold a viable path forward to the next round.
Napoli’s performance carried echoes of their opening-season form but did not sustain the early rhythm. Osimhen’s absence undoubtedly affected their attacking threat, a setback that was felt in the final result. Still, Gladilin emphasized that the tie remains balanced, noting that Napoli can still strike ahead, as a single goal could tilt the momentum in their favor. The situation is unpredictable, with Naples able to push deeper while Milan brings a seasoned edge built on experience and tradition, guided by a veteran manager. In this matchup, fortune appears to be roughly even, according to Gladilin as reported by socialbites.ca.
Milan secured a 1-0 win at home thanks to a goal by Ismael Bennacer. The second leg is scheduled for April 18 in Naples, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch. In the other quarterfinals, Inter defeated Benfica 2-0, Chelsea fell 0-2 to Real Madrid, and Manchester City defeated Bayern Munich 3-0, painting a dramatic picture of the last-eight contenders.
Earlier, Gladilin also remarked that Chelsea would not face catastrophe if they were eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League. The sentiment reflected a broader view that a single result does not determine a team’s entire European campaign, and that both sides could recover or advance depending on the dynamics of the second leg and subsequent matchups.