In 10 days, AC Milan and Napoli played twice, once in Serie A and tonight in the Champions League’s first quarter-final game, and the outcome was the same, but the games were different. In Serie A, the current champions thrashed the future champions 4-0 in Naples with a dominant display and lots of chances. In tonight’s match, Rossonerri scored only one goal from a few chances, but it was still enough for the second win a small advantage ahead of the second leg. The difference in this game was Milan’s keeper Mile Maignan, who had some fantastic saves and was the main reason why Napoli failed to score against Rossonerri for two games in a row. The Neapolitans played a great game, unlike 10 days ago, but just couldn’t score. The absence of their best striker Victor Osimhen (out with a muscle injury) was visible as the Nigerian provided goals, pace, power and was a consistent threat whenever he played. 6 – AC Milan are unbeaten in each of their six Champions League games against Italian opponents (W3, D3), keeping the clean sheet five times in the process. Determination.#MilanNapoli #UCL— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) April 12, 2023 Napoli could have taken the lead literally in the first minute. Kvaratskhelia created a chance for himself, but his low shot was cleared off the line by Krunić. Frank Anguissa was the next Napoli player with a chance two minutes later, but his shot went over the bar. Milan’s Maignan produced a superb save in the 25th minute as Napoli continued to press on AC Milan, but the home team survived and punished all of Napoli’s misses with a great Bennacer goal in the 40th minute. The Algerian international became the fourth African player to score for AC Milan in the Champions League (Weah, Boateng and Muntari). Kjaer had a great chance in injury time, but his header finished at the bar. San Siro si colora di rossonero . La Carica della #CurvaSud per #MilanNapoli 🔴⚫🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z8Nrl2H14k— Milan News 24 (@Milannews24_com) April 12, 2023 Second half again started with Napoli on the offensive and Maignan was again the savior, this time when Elmas took a cheeky shot, but the French stopper got back to the line just in time flick the ball over. Napoli continued to attack, but just couldn’t score as Osimhen’s absence was visible. And then Anguissa made a two yellow card tackles within five minutes and he was off, leaving the Neapolitans with 10 men and impossible task. Di Lorenzo somehow managed to shoot three minutes from time but Maignan was not gonna allow any goals tonight. Ismaël Bennacer 🇩🇿 is the fourth African player to score with AC Milan in UEFA Champions League (excluding own goals), after George Weah 🇱🇷, Kevin-Prince Boateng 🇬🇭 and Sulley Muntari 🇬🇭. Impressive.#MilanNapoli #UCL pic.twitter.com/k0YQgZY8s7— Mohammed (@ZAJD01) April 12, 2023 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEQuarter-final, first legTuesdayMan.City – Bayern 3-0 (1-0)/Rodri 27, SIlva 70, Haaland 76/Benfica – Inter 0-2 (0-0)/Barella 51, Lukaku 82 pen/WednesdayReal Madrid – Chelsea (2-0 (1-0)/Benzema 21, Asensio 74/Milan – Napoli 1-0 (1-0)/Bennacer 40/
