AC Milan booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since the 2006-07 season as they drew 1-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, sealing a 2-1 aggregate victory.
It looked as though the energy had transformed when Olivier Giroud missed a penalty after Rafael Leao was brought down during a counter-attack, but the Portuguese winger provided for Giroud on another breakaway and he slotted in to make it 1-0.
Napoli looked like they had a route back into the game when Fikayo Tomori was penalised for handball, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia saw his spot kick saved. Victor Osimhen did score a consolation with seconds left, but it would not be enough.
Milan are back in the final four of Europe’s top club competition for the first time in 16 years, with a meeting against either city rivals Inter or Benfica awaiting.
Stefano Pioli opted to remain loyal to the starting line-up that won the last two meetings against Napoli, with Davide Calabria, Simon Kjaer, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez, Rade Krunic, Sandro Tonali, Ismael Bennacer, Brahim Diaz, Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao coming back in after 10 changes were made versus Bologna.
Milan began the match under severe pressure just as they did in the first leg with Luciano Spalletti’s men pressing intensely and creating chances. The first came from a free-kick which was taken by Mario Rui around 25 yards out and deflected narrowly wide off the wall.
Kvaratskhelia caused early problems in the game last Wednesday and he managed to skin Calabria again down Milan’s right side in the ninth minute, before cutting onto his right foot and shooting straight at Mike Maignan.
There was a half-chance from the other wing a few minutes later when Politano picked up position on Napoli’s right side and decided to take a shot on with his left foot from distance that whistled comfortably wide. He did the same again not too long later, this time rolling an effort a couple of yards wide of the near post.
With what might have been Milan’s first proper attack of the game, they drew a penalty. Mario Rui took out Leao just as he released a pass to Brahim Diaz and the referee waited before giving the spot kick. Giroud took on the responsibility from 12 yards, but Meret was equal to his effort which was poorly placed in truth.
That save seemed to lift the entire stadium and Napoli came back in search of the opening goal. Zielinski arguably could have done better with a first-time shot from just inside the box after a cut-back from Politano that was straight at Maignan.
Giroud again had a massive opportunity to give Milan the lead on the night when Tonali seized a poor clearance from Meret and surged into the box with a run before finding the Frenchman who let it run and then fired at the keeper from near the penalty spot.
Napoli were forced into a double change 12 minutes before the break as both Politano and Mario Rui collapsed in a heap after challenges at both ends, with Lozano coming on for the former and Olivera for the latter.
The home side had big shouts for a penalty rightly turned down when Leao went flying into a sliding tackle on Lozano, however the replay showed that he clearly got a big touch on the ball. A few minutes before the break Ndombele fired wildly over the bar.
Two minutes before the break Milan got the lead that their counter-attacks had threatened, and it was all thanks to Leao. The Portuguese winger set off on a run from his own half and ended up taking the ball beyond three players, outpacing Rrahmani to the byline and cutting the ball back to Giroud who made no mistake with the goal gaping.
Napoli had to throw everything at it right from the whistle to begin the second half and Kvaratskhelia wriggled his way past Calabria down the flank, getting deep inside the box but firing over the bar from a narrow angle.
It was a game of attack against defence as expected up until the hour mark, and Kvaratskhelia again squirmed his way through his double team before again firing over from inside the box but a narrow angle. Junior Messias came on for Brahim Diaz straight after.
The home side continued to waste chances, and in the 63rd minute a corner found Olivera totally unmarked at the back post yet he could not divert it goalwards. A second change came for Milan five minutes later with Giroud withdrawn for Divock Origi.
Napoli continued to prod and poke to try fashion an opportunity to get them back into the game, with Zielinski curling an effort well over the bar and Rrahmani heading onto the roof of the net.
Ten minutes before the end, Napoli got a golden opportunity to get themselves back into the game as Tomori was penalised for a handball when a low cross struck his trailing arm. However, Kvaratskhelia failed to convert as Maignan guessed the right way to tip it around the post.
🦅 HE'S THE BEST IN THE WORLD!pic.twitter.com/GwnmwGh9h7
— SempreMilan 🏆 (@SempreMilanCom) April 18, 2023
Leao was replaced by Alexis Saelemaekers as the clock continued to tick down, with the wind really taken out of Napoli’s sails.
The home side racked up corner after corner – 14 of them in total – and Olivera was again guilty of missing a huge opportunity to half the aggregate deficit as he sent a free header wide.
The final big moment of the game came when a cross from the right was powerfully headed in by Osimhen, however there would not be time for another opportunity as the Rossoneri squad celebrated jubilantly in front of the Curva.
Andiamoooo
Forza Milano.. We did it the hard way now we face serie A squarely
I’m so happy!!!
FORZA MILAN!!!
Pioli out…standing
CIAOOOOOOOO NAPOLI, MERDA DEL CAPITALE
Ignore i said the capital, I’m so happy that I don’t even know what I’m saying but LET’S GOOOO
It’s ok 😂 we can also sh*t talk the capital 😂😂😂
Hahah
Maignan is imense, what a personality! Calabria also had a perfect display, and also Kjaer and Tomori.
For all the ppl who said to not put the eggs in the UCL basket. We are the UCL!!!
Btw Krunic, Mike and Calabria were beasts.
Our defence has been extremely outstanding for the last 4-5 matches in UCL. Reminds me of our last half Scudetto run where we win because our defence. Seems like we have entirely different mentality in UCL matches. And one thing for sure, Calabria holds Kvara kryptonite.
Agree, Krunic also played wonderfully well.
Lads, please say some beautiful words about our great game and success today. What a night🌙
commentator: Kvaratskhelia vs Calabria.. i think i said this today 200 times 🙂
Tremendous 2nd leg defence of a 1-0 lead.
Calabria once agin brought his best game against Kvara and doubling up neutralised his threat and thus Osimhens.
Pointless substitution of Origi for Giroud the only downer
I don’t know about that. Giroud was basically playing with an injury. He looked exhausted, so the substitution was necessary.
I can hardly wait to face the merdi on the semi, we’ll CRUSH them.
Don’t be an idiot. Just relax my friend
I hope Leao haters have learned a lesson today! but considering their negative IQ, that’s probably asking too much lol but one can hope lmfao
Forza Milan.
F*CK all the leao haters and the racist $hitty Napoli fans.
WHAT A WIN For milan. Only $hinter to dispose of before the Finals!
Forza Milan.
Forza Milan!! Outstanding display from the back four, and all around. Leao sprint was superb, and again Maignan proved to be a very decisive player. Grande Milan!
“F*CK all the leao haters and the racist $hitty Napoli fans.”
Hell yeah!
He’s a magnificent player and I really hope he’ll stick with us for years to come.
What a game!! It’s 23h20 where I am, South Africa! I’m doing an assignment! To honour the boys I’m smoking and having a beer!
Cheers to the fans! Cheers to Mister! Grande! Cheers to the fans that travelled the past 3 games! Cheers to THE WHOLE TEAM!!! I don’t want to individualise this moment!! Cheers to all Milanisti throughout the world!! I love y’all… we fight on this platform many times but now is the time to celebrate… I’ll drink to that.
And one more thing… he’s still on FIRE🔥🥹
Forza Milan!!
Grande🔴⚫️🔴⚫️🙏🏿🤲
Thank you
It’s Milan time no one can stop US. Go Milan the trophy is ours. Love Milan for life.
Never in doubt!!
Bravo Pioli!!
Bravo Rossoneri!!
Bring on the next victims.
We did to Napoli what other small ana average serie a team always did when playing Milan. They sit deep in their half and the counter us.
Am happy for Us the fan, the players and Almighty Milan for today’s victory but don’t let us forget that we still have the same problem and issue with team and top4 is still the main target, for Milan to be in champions league next season.
FORZA MILAN
We did to Napoli what other small and average serie a teams always did when playing Milan. They sit deep in their half and the counter us.
Am happy for Us the fan, the players and Almighty Milan for today’s victory but don’t let us forget that we still have the same problem and issue with team and top4 is still the main target, for Milan to be in champions league next season.
FORZA MILAN
Forza Milan I was happy when we drew Napoli as I could see this happening. So glad we put them in their place – they’ll be rioting all night now no doubt.