Milan has taken a crucial step towards the Champions League semifinals after edging Napoli 2-1 in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie. The match, played at San Siro on Wednesday night, was a closely contested affair with both teams showcasing their attacking prowess.
The home side took an early lead through Hakan Calhanoglu’s superb free-kick in the ninth minute. However, Napoli responded soon after when Lorenzo Insigne converted from the penalty spot following a foul by Theo Hernandez on Matteo Politano inside Milan’s box.
Milan regained their advantage in the 56th minute when Franck Kessie scored from another set-piece situation. The Ivorian midfielder rose highest to head home Calhanoglu’s corner kick and give his side a vital win ahead of next week’s return leg at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The result means that Milan is now one step closer to reaching the semifinals of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 2007. Back then, they lifted their seventh European Cup title after defeating Liverpool 2-1 in Athens.
However, it has been a long and difficult road for Milan since then. They have only qualified for Europe’s premier club competition twice over the past decade and failed to progress beyond the round of 16 on both occasions (2012/13 and 2017/18).
But this season feels different under manager Stefano Pioli. The former Lazio boss has instilled a winning mentality among his players and created an effective system that maximizes their strengths while minimizing weaknesses.
Pioli also deserves credit for getting his team back into contention despite suffering several injury setbacks throughout the season. Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed large parts of campaign due to various fitness issues but returned just in time for this crucial stage of the season.
Another key factor behind Milan’s resurgence is their impressive defensive record. The Rossoneri have conceded just 26 goals in 30 Serie A matches this season, which is the best defensive record in the league. They have also kept seven clean sheets in their last nine games across all competitions.
Milan’s opponents Napoli, on the other hand, are no strangers to success in Europe. The Partenopei reached the round of 16 on three occasions over the past decade and even made it to the quarterfinals back in 2011/12 before bowing out to eventual winners Chelsea.
However, Napoli has struggled for consistency under manager Gennaro Gattuso this season. They currently sit sixth in Serie A table and face an uphill battle to qualify for next year’s Champions League.
Despite their struggles domestically, Napoli will still pose a significant threat to Milan in next week’s return leg. With Insigne leading their attack and Kalidou Koulibaly marshaling their defense, they have enough quality to turn things around at home.
Milan will need to be cautious and disciplined if they want to seal their place in the semifinals. But with players like Calhanoglu, Kessie and Ibrahimovic firing on all cylinders, they have every chance of achieving that feat.
The second leg between Milan and Napoli will take place on March 17 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.