Napoli-Milan is a match valid for the return leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League and is played on Tuesday at 9 pm: live TV, formations, predictions.
The one between Napoli and Milan has now become to all intents and purposes a saga. Only the last chapter remains to be written: the challenge, the third in just under twenty days, scheduled at the “Maradona” stadium, which has already been simmering for a week and is preparing to push Luciano Spalletti’s team towards a comeback that is by no means a foregone conclusion.
Last Wednesday, in the San Siro bowl, the Rossoneri came out on top 1-0. By Bennacer the goal that for now decides the European Champions League derby. Napoli, compared to the league match in which it was surprisingly overwhelmed 4-0, interpreted the match as best it could, coming close to scoring several times. But it came up against a resounding Maignan, by far the best on the field, and above all it was less cynical than Milan in the crucial moments, showing that it was suffering exceedingly from the absence of its top scorer Osimhen, absent through injury as in the direct clash a few days earlier. The Azzurri also lost their nerves: midway through the second half, Zambo Anguissa ended up prematurely in the locker room because of an argued foul on Theo Hernandez and will miss the return match. In addition to the Cameroonian midfielder, Spalletti will also have to do without Kim, who was cautioned for protests with ten minutes to go: the South Korean central was among the cautioned players. It complicates, therefore, the semifinal operation for the partenopei, who had never before played even a quarter in the most important continental event.
Recco Osimhen
The qualification remains wide open, as even the Tuscan coach himself reiterated, but Milan has a not inconsiderable advantage. Namely, that of landing among the top four in Europe even with a draw: should they manage to avoid defeat, a high-tension semifinal with Inter Milan, which beat Benfica 2-0 seven days ago, looms on the horizon.
A moment from the match
Napoli, on the other hand, will not be able to make any calculations, and from the first minute they will try to attack head-on to put the result back on even footing as soon as possible. Stefano Pioli’s men, on the other hand, will try not to get crushed too much in their own half of the field and take advantage of the spaces that, inevitably, Osimhen and his teammates will leave uncovered. Maximum attention, then, to someone like Leao, who both in the league and in the first leg has shown that he can do great harm to the Parthenopean defense, orphaned of one of its best men. However, compared to a week ago Spalletti will have the Nigerian center forward back, who already played 20 minutes against Verona last Saturday. Evidently distracted by the Champions League, Napoli did not go beyond a drab 0-0 draw with the Scaligeri, still remaining +14 ahead of second-placed Lazio. It was also a draw for Milan, revolutionized by Pioli’s pushed turnover, who preferred to safeguard the starters ahead of the European challenge at the “Maradona.” The Rossoneri drew with Bologna (1-1) but avoided being overtaken in fourth place by Inter, surprised at home by Monza.
Napoli-Milan: the latest lineup news
After the break-in in the league, Osimhen immediately gave a good feeling and will take back his place in the center of Napoli’s trident, surrounded by Lozano and Kvaratskhelia. The Mexican is, as usual, in a ballot with Politano, but he should get the better of the former Sassuolo and Inter player. Elmas, who was adapted to a central point at San Siro, will return to a role more suited to him, that of a midfield inside forward in place of the disqualified Anguissa. Alongside him Lobotka and Zielinski. Behind Juan Jesus will replace Kim, while on the right Mario Rui has a clear advantage over Olivera.
Pioli in Bologna went overboard with rotations, fielding only Maignan among those who had taken the field in the first leg match with the Azzurri. Few changes among the Rossoneri, who will deploy with the usual 4-2-3-1, with the trio of Brahim Diaz, Bennacer and Leao behind Giroud. In the median, the Tonali-Krunic pair. Behind Calabria, Hernandez, Kjaer and Tomori.
The prediction
Only victories in front of their own public in the Champions League journey of Napoli, who against Liverpool, Ajax, Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt never scored less than three goals, barely cashing in three. However, it is also true that the Azzurri have already lost twice to Milan this year, with the Rossoneri coincidentally always winning in their last three away trips to Fuorigrotta. The defections of two starters like Kim and Anguissa are undoubtedly heavy for Spalletti, but the return of Osimhen can revitalize an attack that has scored only two goals in the last four games. Napoli should come out on top this time in a match in which Milan is also likely to find its way to goal. That of extra time – and possibly penalties – is not a remote possibility.
The probable formations of Napoli-Milan
- NAPOLI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Mario Rui; Elmas, Lobotka, Zielinski; Lozano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
- MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez; Krunic, Tonali; Brahim Diaz, Bennacer, Leao; Giroud.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1