MY ACCOUNT
– Napoli are top of Serie A, 22 points ahead of fourth-placed Milan
– The Rossoneri have beaten Napoli twice in the past month
– Recommended bet: Tie or AC Milan in Double Chance
AC Milan go to Napoli for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final holding a slender 1-0 advantage over their Serie A rivals.
Ismael Bennacer’s first-half goal at the San Siro last week was enough to give Milan the narrow win and Stefano Pioli’s side will be aiming to complete the job against the runaway Serie A leaders.
Napoli are 14 points clear at the summit of the Italian top flight and certainties to win the Scudetto for the first time since 1990. However, their dream of making it a domestic and Champions League double could well come to an end on Tuesday against a side that has beaten them twice in the last month.
Team news
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who has 25 goals in all competitions this season, missed the first leg with a muscle injury but is fit again and should start after he came off the bench in Saturday’s frustrating 0-0 home draw with Verona.
However, centre-back Kim Min-jae and midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are both suspended for the home side after Kim picked up a costly booking in the first leg, while Zambo Anguissa was sent off in the second half at the San Siro.
Forward Giovanni Simeone is still struggling with a thigh problem and is a major doubt for Napoli, but Gianluca Gaetano should be fit following illness.
Milan boss Stefano Pioli rested several of his first-team regulars in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Bologna with this game in mind so striker Olivier Giroud, defenders Simon Kjaer and Davide Calabria, midfielder Bennacer and forward Rafael Leao are among those poised to return.
Defender Malick Thiaw is a major doubt for the visitors after he picked up a muscle problem at the weekend, while veteran forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ineligible.
The stats
Seven-time European champions Milan are hoping to make the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2007, which was also the year they last won the competition.
Napoli have never won the European Cup/Champions League and reaching the last eight is their best-ever performance in the continent’s premier club competition.
Milan have won on their last three trips to Naples, picking up a 3-1 victory in November 2020, a 1-0 league success in March of last year and then stunning the Serie A champions-elect at the start of April, winning 4-0 in the league game between them.
Prediction
Milan have beaten Napoli twice in April already so despite Luciano Spalletti’s side sitting 22 points above them in the table, the visitors will again likely provide the Serie A leaders with a tough test – and one they may not pass.
Having Osimhen back is a big boost for Napoli but losing key pair Kim and Zambo Anguissa to suspension is a concern for the hosts, who must try and go for goals, which could leave them exposed at the back.
Napoli’s campaign will go down in history as one of their greatest-ever when they do eventually secure the Scudetto but they have shown signs of end-of-season nerves, also losing at home to Lazio in March and most recently being held by struggling Verona.
Back Tie or AC Milan in Double Chance at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet.
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