The first round is Rossoneri. Important victory of Milan, who takes home the first leg of the quarterfinals thanks to a goal by Bennacer: the games are far from over, God forbid, but in the meantime there is a small advantage that shifts the qualification bag, albeit slightly. The Napoli, in the light of the chances created, would probably have deserved a draw, but the Rossoneri were cynical in (almost) making the most of the chances they had, unlike an opponent who started strong but died at a distance. To increase the Devil's smiles, referee whistles are brought in, which will deny the return to Anguissa (expelled for double yellow card) e Kim (warned and booked for protests): very heavy absences for Spalletti, moreover still without certainties regarding Osimhen.
Milan – Napoli 1-0, Bennacer gives the victory to the Devil
Strange game that of San Siro, completely different from that of the championship. On 2 April, in fact, it was Milan who started strong, while yesterday the exact opposite happened. Napoli pushed on the accelerator right from the start, creating as many as six chances in the first 13': the most sensational with Kvaratskhelia, blocked into an empty net by Krunic after just 1', to then continue with Mario Rui, Anguissa, Di Lorenzo, Elmas and Zielinski. It seemed like a one-sided match, but then Milan came out, who first came close to taking the lead with Leao, author of a terrific progression that ended just wide of a whisker, only to then find it with Bennacer, very good at turning a great action by Diaz into the net finished by Leao himself, for the surgical left by the Algerian on which Meret was unable to do anything (40 '). Shortly after the Devil even had the opportunity to double and perhaps direct the qualification, but the header by Kjaer he printed himself on the crossbar, sending everyone to the interval on 1-0. In the second half, Napoli, after the blow, resumed grinding play and chances, almost equalizing with Elmas (crossbar after Maignan's deflection), before Anguissa was sent off for a second yellow card (both fouls on Hernandez) and Kim caught the yellow that will make him skip the return (he was warned). In the final, the Azzurri, despite an inevitable lowering of the center of gravity in order not to allow space for Milan's counter-attacks, again went close to 1-1 with Di Lorenzo blocked by a great Maignan and Olivera, whose header went wide just a little, but they weren't able to find him, sending Bennacer's 1-0 in the archive, decidedly heavy in view of next Tuesday's return.
Pioli: "This is a Champions League Milan, but it's not over yet..."
“They got off to a better start, we dribbled badly at the beginning and were more aggressive, then we played against a strong team – the analysis by Pioli -. It's the first win against Napoli here in Milan in the last three years, we've spent a lot and it's a result that gives us the chance to go through. I'm already thinking about the return, it will be another great match. There were a few too many technical errors, there was tension and emotion between the two teams who faced a balanced match. Bennacer played an excellent game, we had Saelamaekers work in the wing to help Calabria double up against Kvaratskhelia. I won't name names, I liked the attitude of the whole team. We played a Champions League game, but it's not a result that closes qualifying. We know what difficulties we will encounter. We are happy to experience these moments with our fans, we have won a lot as a club in the Champions League and our journey has made us dream of reaching these levels. We played a fair game, built badly at the start and then found balance. A good result, but it's only the first half."
Spalletti: "I have found the best Napoli again, congratulations to Maignan"
“I have nothing to digest, commenting on matches afterwards is a waste of time because you don't get anything – he replied Spalletti -. We had a great attitude for what we saw on the pitch, we tried to play the game even with ten players. Congratulations to Maignan for what he has done, they are a great team. The match is what we had to do and what I expected them to do. Well done to the boys. Any absence is heavy at this point, but we also have players who can make up for absences because it's always been like this all year. I found the best Naples. We are a team that needs to be trained in character but we have very good qualities. Sometimes we are sensitive to certain situations that we create ourselves. Like the climate in which we played at home in the league, in which only the thousand Milan fans could hear themselves at Maradona. No appeals, I'm my age, I have to devote more time to my children, I've given too much to football. We are a very strong team with an important future but made up of good guys who are attentive to what is happening around them”.
Europe and Conference League tonight: Feyenoord-Roma, Juventus-Sporting and Lech Poznan-Fiorentina
They will think about concluding the round of cups Roma, Juventus e Fiorentina, engaged in the challenges of Europe e Conference League. The Giallorossi will open on Thursday in the difficult away match in Rotterdam, in which Mourinho will try to direct the qualification by betting on Abraham, left to rest in Turin and determined to become the protagonist at Feyenoord. In the evening, however, it will be the turn of the bianconeri, who will receive Sporting Lisbon at home: Allegri, beyond the suggestions of the eve, should opt for the usual 3-5-2 with Di Maria and Milik in attack, in spite of the rumors of a too dangerous trident with Chiesa. Vlahovic and Pogba, however, appear on the squad list and it is not excluded that they may enter the match in progress, even if the Juventus coach hopes not to need them. Finally, Fiorentina, called to take a single bite of the Poles from Lech Poznan, to reach a semifinal that would make everything more interesting: the Italian will try with the usual Cabral, determined to drag his team into the group of the first four and give the cup attack.
