Napoli put in a spirited performance in their Champions League quarter-final match on Tuesday night, giving everything as they tried to recover the one-goal deficit from their trip to Milan in the first leg. However, it wasn’t meant to be, with the match finishing in a 1-1 draw that sees the Rossoneri progress to the semis with a 2-1 aggregate win. It means that Luciano Spalletti’s men are forced to bow out of the competition, but they can do so with their heads held high.
The Azzurri dominated from the first whistle, causing the Rossoneri lots of problems at the back. Against the run of play, Milan were awarded a penalty but Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret made a great save from Olivier Giroud’s effort to keep the score even. However, the Frenchman could make amends after a piercing run by Rafael Leao set him up for an easy finish.
In the second half, Napoli fought hard to get back into it and when they too were awarded a penalty, it looked like a comeback was on. Once again, however, it was the goalkeepers’ day as Mike Maignan saved from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Victor Osimhen managed to level the score for the Azzurri in the dying seconds but there wasn’t enough time for them to snatch another to keep them in the competition. Napoli’s thoughts will now turn to their pursuit of the Serie A title.
NAPOLI 1-1 MILAN (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: Giroud 43, Osimhen 90+2.
NAPOLI: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani (Ostigard 76), Juan Jesus, Mario Rui (Olivera 34), Ndombele (Elmas 63), Lobotka, Zielinski (Raspadori 76), Politano (Lozano 34), Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen.
Coach: Spalletti.
MILAN: Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Theo Hernandez, Tonali, Krunic, Brahim (Messias 59), Bennacer, Leao (Saeleameakers 84), Giroud (Origi 69).
Coach: Stefano Pioli.
Referee: Marciniak.
Bookings: Theo Hernandez, Di Lorenzo, Maignan, Olivera.
