Milan v Napoli Live Commentary & Result, 12/04/23, UEFA Champions League

That's all from San Siro today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!

While Milan visit Bologna at the weekend and Napoli must tackle Serie A strugglers Verona, the teams reconvene in Campania six days from now, to decide who will reach the Champions League semi-finals.

Again grinding out both the win and a clean sheet in the Champions League, Milan will take a one-goal advantage down south next week, as they strike on the counter to topple Napoli for the second time in less than a fortnight. The Rossoneri's first quarter-final in the competition for over a decade begins with a first-leg victory that owed much to their opponents lack of clinical finishing and a fine goal on the break from Bennacer. There's all still to play for, though, and Spalletti's side will be roared on by half of Naples at a packed Stadio Maradona.

D. Calabria

Yellow Card

90' + 6' Following a furious outburst after the final whistle, Calabria becomes the latest man booked by an increasingly flustered referee.

90' + 6' FULL-TIME: MILAN 1-0 NAPOLI

A. Rrahmani

Yellow Card

90' + 3' Rrahmani was particularly aggrieved by Saelemaekers' attempts to buy a late penalty, and for then shoving his opponent he is shown a yellow card.

A. Saelemaekers

Yellow Card

90' + 3' After trying to earn his side a penalty, Saelemaekers is confronted by Napoli players annoyed by his apparent simulation and his response earns the Belgian winger a booking.

90' + 2' In the second minute of five indicated for stoppage time, Milan are probing gently inside Napoli's half when Leao loses patience and lashes a 25-yard shot well over the crossbar.

90' Meret makes a straightforward save low down at his near post, after Leao shuffles inside, beats Di Lorenzo and drives a shot in from just outside the box.

88' MISS! Ten-man Napoli are not taking defeat lying down! This time, another full-back, Olivera, meets Di Lorenzo's cross with a header but can only steer it over the crossbar from close range!

87' SUPER SAVE! After Politano wriggles through on the right and crosses, Di Lorenzo again pops up in the Milan box, but sees his shot tipped away from the top-right corner by Maignan!

85' It's Milan on top now, as Napoli take up an unfamiliar defensive shape in order to limit their losses. There's still at least 90 minutes of this tie to come in Naples next week, after all.

83' As well as receiving his first red card for Napoli in 66 appearances across all competitions, Anguissa also becomes the first Partenopei player since 2011 to be sent off in the Champions League.

M. Politano

K. Kvaratskhelia

81' A weary Kvaratskhelia is also coming off, with fellow winger Politano thrown on for the final stages.

M. Olivera

Mário Rui

81' A straight swap at left-back sees Rui make way for the fresh legs of Olivera.

T. Ndombélé

P. Zieliński

80' Spalletti now responds with a triple substitution. First, Ndombele comes in for Zielinski in midfield.

A. Rebić

Brahim Díaz

80' Having played a major part in creating Milan's goal, Diaz is now withdrawn; Rebic replaces him.

Kim Min-Jae

Yellow Card

78' Now the referee, who was apparently averse to booking players in the first half, shows yellow to a bemused Kim. Following a minor foul, it seems the centre-back is then booked for dissent.

77' Following a Tonali layoff, Krunic scuffs an untidy attempt well wide of the right-hand post from 20 yards.

76' Spalletti is now in something of a quandary, as his team still trail and are now short-handed. Should they still pursue an equaliser, or try to limit the damage ahead of next week's second leg?

74' Another mistimed challenge in midfield - his second in the space of a few minutes - sees Anguissa sent off! That's his second booking, as he makes contact with Hernandez's midriff with an outstretched boot. Napoli are down to 10 men!

73' From 35 yards out, an awful free-kick by Rui sends the ball straight out of play, floating over the top of a packed Milan area.

71' A rare Milan period of pressure sees Giroud fail to make contact with a trademark acrobatic effort, then he concedes a free-kick for pushing Kim inside the Napoli area.

G. Di Lorenzo

Yellow Card

70' The referee also books Napoli captain Di Lorenzo, in his case for dissent.

A. Zambo Anguissa

Yellow Card

70' For halting Hernandez with a clumsy challenge in midfield, Anguissa is shown a yellow card by the referee.

G. Raspadori

H. Lozano

69' After a quiet game, Lozano is taken off; making way for Raspadori to come on up front.

68' After a layoff by Elmas, who has his back to goal on the edge of the area, Anguissa scuffs a shot wide of the target via a deflection off the stand-in striker's leg.

A. Saelemaekers

I. Bennacer

67' Having recently been booked, Bennacer is withdrawn by Pioli. Saelemaekers - who excelled against Napoli as a substiute earlier this month - comes on.

66' Quite confidently now, Milan stroke the ball around in front of their frustrated opponents. The Scudetto holders are showing their likely successors that they were crowned Serie A champions for a reason.

64' Rui's outswinging corner from the left is headed away at the near post by Leao, and Milan just miss out on starting another counter-attacking raid in the aftermath.

62' With a well-timed tackle, Milan captain Calabria saves his side at the last, as Kvaratskhelia dances inside from the left after picking up Zielinski's pass and tries to set up a shot. That's brilliant defending by the Rossoneri's right-back.

I. Bennacer

Yellow Card

60' For a foul on Anguissa in midfield, Bennacer becomes the first Milan player booked.

59' Sitting very deep now, Milan are managing to halt Napoli's momentum and will perhaps feel confident of keeping yet another Champions League clean sheet.

57' Since the interval, Napoli have increased their share of possession from 54 per cent to 72 per cent during the second half so far. Can they make such dominance pay, though?

55' Tonali heavily overhits a free-kick from the right flank into the area, and a stretching Leao can only turn it behind on the left byline.

54' Under little pressure, the imperious Maignan comfortably claims a drifted cross from the left by Zielinski and Napoli's latest attack fizzles out.

52' Shortly after seeing a tame header simply saved by Maignan, Di Lorenzo has a mishit shot blocked behind by Kjaer's covering lunge. It's another corner for Napoli, who are totally on top now.

50' OFF THE BAR! Following a clipped cross from Kvaratskhelia, Elmas angles a looping header towards goal, which has to be tipped onto the crossbar by a back-tracking Maignan! That's a corner for Napoli.

49' It's been a more tentative start to the second half so far, in contrast to both the opening and closing stages of the first. Napoli are still having most of the ball.

47' After a delay for the referee's communications kit to be fixed by his colleagues, the game gets back under way once he has had a chat with both captains.

46' Milan kick off, and we are back under way at San Siro!

Not only did they hold Napoli goalless when the teams met in Naples earlier this month, but Milan have a record of W4, D0, L0 when leading at half-time in this season's Champions League. Today, they are seeking a fifth straight clean sheet in the competition - that would ensure a lead for next week's return leg at Stadio Maradona.

A half split into two distinct sections ends with Milan leading by a goal and Napoli ruing missed chances from early in the game. While the visitors went all-out for an opener and came close on a couple of occasions, their hosts struck on the break when Diaz opened up space and Bennacer fired home from close range - after that, it was all Milan. The closing stages of a fiery first half saw the Rossoneri seek to extend their advantage, but it remains fascinatingly poised at the break.

45' + 4' HALF-TIME: MILAN 1-0 NAPOLI

45' + 3' OFF THE BAR! Bennacer swings over a corner from the left, then Kjaer leaps above everyone else to thunder a 10-yard header against the frame of the goal! Meret was left flat-footed as it bounced down and then away from immediate danger. Napoli escape!

45' + 2' Tonali's second successive corner-kick is only part-cleared by Napoli's ailing defence, and it is now the Azzurri who are hanging on for the half-time whistle - how the goal has changed things!

45' + 1' Diaz and Giroud combine on the right side of the area, before the latter lays the ball off for Tonali. The Milan midfielder strikes at goal, but sees his low shot deflected behind for a corner.

43' Clipped by Lozano, who is clearly not on good terms with his direct opponent today, Hernandez takes the chance to hit the deck. There's no booking for the Mexican winger, though, or even a Milan free-kick. Pioli is outraged and is instead shown yellow near the touchline.

42' Two fiery characters - Hernandez and Lozano - square up on the touchline, but after some exhanged words and glaring from several players on either side, the altercation fizzles out when the referee arrives on the scene.

Brahim Díaz

Assist

40' Turning two defenders near the halfway line, Diaz slips clear and then swaps passes with Leao inside the area before playing in goalscorer Bennacer.

I. Bennacer

Goal

40' MILAN LEAD! Against the run of play, the seven-time champions strike! Diaz sprints through the centre at speed, exchanges passes with Leao, then tees up Bennacer. From 10 yards, the midfielder stays cool to fire the ball into the back of the net via Meret's foot for his first-ever Champions League goal! What a time to get it! It's 1-0 to Milan!

P. Zieliński

Yellow Card

38' After exhibiting some leniency earlier in the game, the referee finally flashes his yellow card: Zielinski is booked for a hack on the shins of Krunic.

36' Finally, Giroud is cleared to continue and returns to the fray from the sidelines. Now into the final 10 minutes of the first half, Milan will be glad to keep things level until the break.

34' After taking a clattering from Kim, a pained Giroud writhes around on the soggy turf. The game comes to a halt while the French forward receives treatment.

32' When Milan finally press forward in numbers, their attack ultimately falls apart, and Krunic crunches Zielinski down to the turf with a challenge designed to halt Napoli's counter. He avoids a booking, though.

31' Due to Milan's attempts to nullify Napoli, the pace has certainly dropped over the past few minutes. The Rossoneri are mainly focused on retaining the ball inside their own half and pumping forward the occasional long ball.

29' Spalletti is enraged by the touchline, as Anguissa fails to pick out Kvaratskhelia with a pass across to the left flank. It merely rolls out of play for a throw-in, and for all Napoli's supremacy, they've yet to make it pay by scoring that crucial first goal.

27' Following an unusual delay for the corner flag to be repaired once Leao has dismantled it with a kick, the action resumes at San Siro.

25' CLOSE! Brushing two defenders aside on the halfway line, Leao spots some space to sprint into - and takes it! The Milan forward powers clear to the edge of the box and then fires a low shot only a foot wide of the right-hand post! Brilliant individual play!

23' From slightly further out than last time - perhaps 25 yards out on this occasion - Zielinski sends a shot spiralling over the crossbar, allowing Maignan to take a watching brief rather than springing back into action.

21' The Azzurri shirts of the away side are again swarming all over the deep-lying Rossoneri, as Napoli continue to dominate the ball and press aggressively for an opening goal.

19' After a typical surge up the left flank, Hernandez's claims for a free-kick on the edge of Napoli's area are turned down, and there was minimal contact from Lozano - if any.

17' An ambitious low raking cross from the left by Rui drifts clear of Lozano and straight out of play for a Milan goal-kick, offering the struggling hosts some much-needed respite.

15' Milan have kept clean sheets in each of their last four Champions League fixtures, but that streak has already come under some pressure already today. Perhaps it's no wonder: Napoli are the Champions League's leading scorers this season on 25 goals - their average of 3.1 per game is the fifth-best ever in a single campaign.

13' Once again up from the back, Di Lorenzo leaps highest to reach a cross from Rrahmani with a long-range header, which loops up and finally drops on top of Maignan's net.

12' SAVE! A thunderous left-footed strike from 20 yards by Zielinski requires Maignan to leap up and tip the ball over his crossbar with a sharp save. Napoli are building up another head of steam here!

11' JUST WIDE! Kvaratskhelia drives inside from the left, then after exchanging passes with Elmas inside the Milan area, lets fly with a shot that is deflected narrowly wide of the left-hand post by Kjaer's outstretched leg!

9' On the stretch, just inside the Napoli area, Giroud can't quite take Leao's pacy throughball into his stride and the visitors have another goal-kick.

7' Diaz wins a free-kick on the right, taken by Tonali and delivered into the box, but the masked Meret manages to punch the ball clear, then it's turned behind for a Napoli goal-kick.

5' Milan are reeling at Napoli's lightning-fast start to the game, and seek a little control by keeping the ball for a sustained spell. They've survived an early storm and can now try to pose their own threat.

3' CLOSE! Anguissa's powerful shot from the edge of the box forces Maignan to tip the ball over for a corner. Then, from the set-piece, Rui's inswinging cross is nodded wide by Napoli skipper Di Lorenzo at the near post!

1' OFF THE LINE! After both Kjaer and Krunic fail to clear a low ball across goal by Zielinski, it falls into the path of Kvaratskhelia only five yards out. However, the winger's goalbound shot is blocked by Krunic on the line! What a miss - and what a let-off for Milan!

1' Napoli kick off, and we are under way in rainy Milan!

After an airing of the iconic Champions League anthem, both teams are taking up their places on the San Siro pitch, and kick-off is now just moments away!

With both leading scorer Victor Osimhen and his deputy Giovanni Simeone injured, Spalletti selects Elmas to feature as a false nine in Napoli's three-man attack. Raspadori is dropped to the bench, despite joining Osimhen and Simeone on four Champions League goals this term. Lozano beats Politano to a start on the right wing, while Rui is favoured over Olivera at left-back.

Having selected a much-changed team for last Friday's 0-0 draw with Empoli, Pioli brings back a host of regulars for today's big game. Leao and Giroud will feature up front with Diaz playing a supporting role, and the vastly experienced Kjaer starts at the back. Just returned from injury, Kalulu is back on the bench, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic is among those not on Milan's Champions League squad list.

SUBS: Pierluigi Gollini, Giacomo Raspadori, Matteo Politano, Hubert Idasiak, Tanguy Ndombele, Leo Ostigard, Gianluca Gaetano, Mathias Olivera, Juan Jesus, Bartosz Bereszynski.

NAPOLI (4-3-3): Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Kim Min-Jae, Amir Rrahmani, Mario Rui; Frank Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, Piotr Zielinski; Hirving Lozano, Eljif Elmas, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

SUBS: Antonio Mirante, Matteo Gabbia, Fode Ballo-Toure, Junior Messias, Alexis Saelemaekers, Tommaso Pobega, Alessandro Florenzi, Malick Thiaw, Ante Rebic, Charles de Ketelaere, Pierre Kalulu, Divock Origi.

MILAN (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria, Simon Kjaer, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Sandro Tonali, Rade Krunic; Brahim Diaz, Ismael Bennacer, Rafael Leao; Olivier Giroud.

Well down the road to succeeding today's hosts as Italian champions, a 22-point gap separates leaders Napoli from fourth-placed Milan in the Serie A standings. While 24 wins from 29 league fixtures so far places the Scudetto within tantalisingly close reach, Luciano Spalletti's side now want to break more new ground in Europe - this is the club's first-ever quarter-final appearance. A series of spectacular victories during the group stages were followed by last month's 5-0 aggregate defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt, and this season's Champions League's top scorers now arrive in Italy's second city having beaten Milan on each of their last three trips to San Siro.

Today, seven-time European champions Milan meet Napoli for the first time ever in the Champions League, seeking to emulate their shock 4-0 victory in Naples earlier this month. Quarter-finalists for the first time since 2012, Stefano Pioli's men eliminated Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16 and now tackle their fellow Serie A side in the final eight. Ahead of today's first leg, the Rossoneri - who could meet city rivals Inter in the semi-finals - have lost only one of nine previous all-Italian match-ups in UEFA competition.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Champions League quarter-final first leg clash between Milan and Napoli at San Siro!

Milan v Napoli Live Commentary, 13/04/23

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