Attacking duo and dead ball threat: What Milan should expect from Napoli

By Oliver Fisher -

There is no doubting that Napoli represent a very dangerous opponent, and AC Milan will have to be at their best to preserve their advantage in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.

As Milan’s official website writes, Luciano Spalletti’s side are one of the two teams – together with Bayern Munich – that have scored the most goals following sequences of at least 10 passes ending with a shot or a touch in the opponent’s area (four).

They will also look to exploit set pieces and dead balls, because Napoli are the team that have scored the most goals from set pieces (18, same as Juventus, excluding penalties and direct free kicks) in all competitions, fewer only than Monaco who have 19.

However, the Partenopei have sometimes proved to be a bit too confidence in their own half as they have surrendered the most offensive recoveries (88) in Serie A less only than Borussia Dortmund (94) and Bayern Munich (93) among the teams participating in this Champions League season.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia can hurt Milan, having created the most chances so far in this Champions League (15, at least five more than any other player).

In addition to Kvaratskhelia, the Diavolo will also have to watch out for the returning Victor Osimhen, scorer of 25 goals in 30 matches in 2022-23 in all competitions and a lethal player in the box.

Meanwhile, Piotr Zieliński has been involved in five goals (3 goals, 2 assists) in four home games in the Champions League, scoring or providing an assist on average every 49 minutes. The Polish midfielder is one away from Edinson Cavani in terms of the record for goal involvements in the Champions League at home for Napoli, as he hit 4 goals and 2 assists in 2011-12.

Tags AC Milan Napoli-Milan
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