AC Milan vs Napoli summary: score, goals, highlights, Champions League 2022/23

That's all from me tonight.

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Napoli have it all to do

Spalletti's side will be disappointed with their first leg but will be confident of turning the tie around at home. 

Milan win again

Milan have beaten Napoli for the second time in 10 days!

Milan take narrow lead into second leg

Milan take a narrow lead to Naples next week. The home side win the first leg at the San Siro thanks to a first-half strike from Ismael Bennacer.

Milan have recorded back-to-back wins over Napoli and they have the advantage going into the second leg.

Napoli will be disappointed after a strong start in the first half. 

It's all over in Milan!

Milan beat Napoli 1-0!

Milan have been disciplined and look like they will get the job done.

Napoli have struggled to break down Milan tonight and have sorely missed Osimhen in attack.

There will be five minutes added on.

Napoli have another chance!

The ball is curled into the box for Olivera, who heads just over the Milan bar.

DI LORENZO!

It's heading into the top corner but Maignan gets a big hand to it.

Zlatan is now off his seat watching his team see this one out. Oh how he would love to be out there. He's 41 and could leave the club this summer when his contract expires.

Milan have been happy to protect their narrow lead but with Napoli down to 10 men this is a chance for the home side to double their lead.

Tonali curls a free from the right into the box. Napoli manage to clear the danger. Milan lead 1-0.

Real Madrid are beating Chelsea 2-0 in tonight's other quarter-final.

Todd Boehly's pre-match prediction was a bit off...

Kim is booked now! Napoli are not getting on with this referee and now Kim will also miss the return leg. There was nothing in it but the defender did have words with the official and got a yellow. 

Anguissa will now miss the second leg next week, causing further issues for head coach Spalletti.

It's for a tackle on Theo Hernandez but I'm really not sure that that is a red card.

Anguissa only got his first yellow three minutes ago! He has now received his second one and Napoli are down to 10 men.

That looks very harsh. Spalletti is absolutely furious. 

Anguissa has been sent off!

The Partenopei have struggled in front of goal without their talisman Osimhen. Can substitute Raspadori make the difference in the last 20 minutes?

Napoli make a change and they don't look like breaking down Milan.

Napoli change

OFF Hirving Lozano

ON Giacomo Raspadori

Pioli's first change

Tonight was Bennacer's first ever Champions League goal.

Milan change

OFF Ismael Bennacer

ON Alexis Saelemaekers

The goalscorer is replaced.

Milan are about to make a change.

Kim drives out of defence with the ball. Milan win it back and transition through Brahim Díaz and Leao.

Milan lead 1-0. They're keeping the ball now, something they struggled to do in the opening 45'

Milan clear Mario Rui's corner from the left. 

Bennacer gets a yellow for catching Napoli's Anguissa.

Napoli will now have to conjure up some magic to break down this Milan defence.

Just 10 days ago, Milan kept a clean sheet against Spalletti's side, winning 4-0 against the Serie A champions-elect.

Milan do have a lot of history in this competition. 

The Rossoneri have won seven Champions Leagues titles.

Their first came in 1962/63 and their most recent was in 2006/07.

The winner of Milan-Napoli will play the winner of Benfica-Inter in the semi-finals of this year's competition. 

Napoli have started well in this second half, like they started the first half. 

The Napoli corner on the left is played shot. Zielinski's poor cross is collected by Maignan.

Di Lorenzo's shot is deflected behind for a corner. 

Milan have been dealing with more Napoli pressure.

Maignan comfortably collects the header from the resulting corner.

Maignan tips Elmas' header onto the bar and it goes out for a Napoli corner.

Napoli have only lost to Liverpool in the Champions League this season. And that was when they were only through to the last 16 of the competition.

So what will Milan do? Will they sit deep and soak up the pressure or go and look for a second?

And play has resumed!

It's a wet night at a packed San Siro. The referee is currently having his equipment checked. 

Milan lead 1-0 if you're just joining our coverage.

Milan get us underway for the second half!

Brahim plays his part

He was key in the Milan goal.

Milan lead at the San Siro

Ismael Bennacer's goal has the home side ahead. Napoli started the better of the two teams and had a great chance in the first minute through Kvaratskhelia.

Milan slowly grew into the game and opened the scoring when Bennacer scored after some good play between Brahim Díaz and Rafael Leao. 

Napoli won't panic and are still well in this one.

And there it is! The referee blows his whistle for half-time!

It's all Milan now!

Kjaer's header comes off the bar!

That could have been 2-0!

Milan have a second corner after Meret's touch on the inswinger.

And now they have a third corner after another deflection.

Tonali arrives in the box. His low shot is blocked and goes out for a corner!

The atmosphere at the San Siro has lifted with the goal. Napoli were unable to take advantage of their early dominance. Spalletti will have to conjure up something at the break. 

Bennacer goal!

It's 1-0 at the San Siro!

Diaz and Leao were instrumental in the build-up to the goal. Milan are ahead!

Brahim Diaz goes bursting through the middle. The ball makes its way to Bennacer on the left and he buries it first time to give the home side the lead. 

Zielinski is booked for taking down Krunic and it's a deserved card. He swipes out and can have no complains.

Napoli started the better but their tempo has slowed slightly and it remains goalless in Milan. 

Stefano Pioli on Mike Maignan

"It's exhausting to train him because he is so demanding. But that's great too, because he is highly motivated."

Giroud goes over after a challenge by Kim. Milan want a yellow card, while the Frenchman gets treatment. 

Meret's clearance goes straight to Leao. His cross back into the box is overhit. Napoli have a goal-kick.

Milan so close

Leao's effort goes just wide!

Napoli team

Attempts

Milan - 1

Napoli - 8

LEAO!

He goes bursting through the middle. Napoli can't handle his pace or strength but his left-footed finish just rolls wide of the far post.

Zlatan can't believe it...

Real Madrid have taken the lead against Chelsea at the Bernabéu. Karim Benzema has put Los Blancos ahead.

Milan are happy to sit on their 18-yard line and soak up the pressure from Napoli, who are of course without top marksman Victor Osimhen.

The striker has been linked with a move to the Premier League and is reportedly keen on moving to England. 

Milan are finding it difficult against Napoli's press. The Rossoneri have not been able to string a succession of passes together. 

Theo Hernandez's pass is intercepted. Mario Rui drives forward on the left but overhits his pass and Milan regain possession. It remains 0-0 at the San Siro. 

Napoli are on top. Di Lorenzo fires a ball into the box. It comes back out to Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian has seen a lot of the ball and looks to be in the mood this evening. 

Milan are building out from the back with their two centre-backs. Tonali drops in to make it a three and the full-backs move into advanced positions.

Zielinski shoots!

It's a fine save from Maignan to push it over the bar.

Zielinski picked up the loose ball and unleashed from all of 25 yards but Maignan does well to keep it out. 0-0

Napoli work the corner short. Milan win it back and it ends up going out for a goal-kick.

Kvaratskhelia links up with Elmas. The former's shot is deflected out for a corner.

Leao picks it up on the left. Napoli defend well to take it off the forward. He bagged a brace for Milan in their last victory over Napoli.

The home side will look to get it to the Portugal international as often as possible tonight.

Pioli is out on his touchline giving instructions to his Milan players, who have started slowly. 

Tonight's match is the reigning Serie A champions against the champions-elect. Napoli are currently 16 points clear at the top of the table.

Napoli have started on the front foot and have been the more positive so far.

Anguissa shoots!

Napoli work it well before it makes its way to Anguissa, who fires an effort high from 25 yards.

Maignan tips it over the bar. 

Napoli will be feeling the pressure tonight after losing 4-0 to Milan in Serie A recently. 

It's shambolic defending from the home side; Napoli will be wondering how they are not ahead. 

What a chance!

The ball falls to Kvaratskhelia at the back post, but his effort is cleared off the line!

Napoli are wearing their traditional blue and Milan are in their home colours tonight.

Napoli get us underway at the San Siro!

Napoli are without Osimhen, and Elmas is set to start in a false 9 role.

Milan go with the exact same side that beat Napoli 4-0 just 10 days ago!

It's the seven times Champions League winners Milan against Napoli, the Serie A leaders!

Pioli and Spalletti embrace each other on the touchline. Big hugs and plenty of smiles.

It's been raining in Milan this evening which will add some grease to the surface.

The teams are making their way out!

All set at the San Siro

The San Siro on the big European nights is truly special.

Napoli starting XI

Here's how Spalletti's men will line up.

Milan XI vs Napoli

Pioli has selected the following XI for tonight's first leg in Milan.

Milan warm-up underway

Milan will be confident tonight after beating Napoli 4-0 just 10 days ago.

Kick-off at the San Siro is just over 15 minutes away!

Kvaratskhelia key

Kvaratskhelia has been immense for the Partenopei since joining for just over €10m last summer.

Napoli will be hoping he can add to his tally tonight with both Osimhen and Simeone out injured.

Napoli on the verge of Serie A title

They've had to wait a long, long time but Napoli are set to win the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years.

Whatever happens over these two legs with Milan, it will be a year to season for the club.

Champions League semi-final draw

Real Madrid vs Chelsea / Man City vs Bayern

Benfica vs Inter / Milan vs Napoli

The winner of Milan-Napoli will play the winner of Benfica-Inter in the semi-finals of this year's competition.

Team news

It's the same Milan side that beat Napoli 4-0 in Serie A recently. 

For Napoli, with all the absentees in attack, Elmas starts as a false 9 tonight.

Kvaradonna

Napoli's Kvaratskhelia has been sensational this season, scoring 14 goals and assisting 16 in all competitions for the Serie A leaders.

Milan will have their work cut out with the Georgian star.

SOCCER

Who is István Kovács, the referee for AC Milan vs Napoli Champions League quarter final first leg?

UEFA have designated referee István Kovács to take charge of tonight's Champions League first-leg tie between AC Milan and Napoli.

Making sure the game flows smoothly without any hitches will be 38-year-old Romanian match official Kovács, who will lead an all-Romanian team comprising line officials Vasile Florin and Ovidiu Artene and fourth official Horatiu Fesnic with German officials Bastian Dankert and Marco Fritz in the VAR room.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea

Tonight's other quarter-final is taking place in Madrid as Champions League lovers Real Madrid take on Chelsea andwe have Joe covering it. 

Napoli's lethal forwards

Napoli forwards Osimhen and Kvaratshkelia have a combined total of 39 goals in all competitions, making them one of Europe's most lethal duos.

Unfortunately for Spalletti, Osimhen has been ruled out tonight through injury.

Simeone is also out with a thigh injury.

Napoli XI

And Spalletti has named his team for the clash at the San Siro.

Milan XI

Here's the Milan XI vs Napoli.

Giroud is leading the line for the Rossoneri.

Inter beat Benfica

Inter won their Champions League first leg tie against Benfica last night.

The Italian side opened the scoring early in the second half when Barella headed home.

Despite a brief flurry from Benfica, it was Inter who looked like the more composed team and threatened on the break with Dumfries later going close on two occasions.

Inter's second goal came from the penalty spot after VAR adjudged that Joao Mario had handled the ball.

Lukaku scored from 12 yards to put the Serie A outfit in the driving seat going into the second leg.

Seven Champions League titles

The Rossoneri have won seven Champions Leagues titles in their history. 

Their first came in 1962/63 and their most recent was in 2006/07.

Sold out San Siro

The San Siro is sold out tonight, with 75,000 fans expected on a huge European night in Milan.

"An Italian classic"

Napoli's away record in Europe this season

Napoli have won all of their away matches in the Champions League this season, apart from the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield on Matchday 6.

Milan team for first leg versus Napoli

Milan could start with the same side that beat Napoli 4-0 away in Serie A on 10 April.  

Head coach Pioli could line his side out in a 4-2-3-1 with Krunić and Tonali anchoring the midfield.

Bennacer is set to start in the three with Leão and Brahim Diaz on either flank and Giroud as the focal point in attack.

When is the Champions League final?

The 2022-23 Champions League final will take place at Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic Stadium on 10 June 2023.

San Siro

What a venue 😍

Injury issues for Napoli

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen misses tonight's first leg with a thigh injury. 

The Partenopei have struggled in front of goal since the Nigeria international picked up the injury.

Fellow frontman Giovanni Simeone is also ruled out through injury. The son of Diego Simeone could miss up to six weeks of action. 

Napoli travel north to Milan

Kick-off at the San Siro is just over two hours away!

What a treat we have in store this evening in Milan. Two Italian sides go head-to-head in the Champions League. It's set up to be a cracker. I'll have all the team news for you very shortly.

Milan vs Napoli: welcome!

Hello and welcome to AS USA's live coverage of this Champions League quarter-final first leg between Milan and Napoli.