Napoli’s Victor Osimhen to return for Champions League second leg against AC Milan
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AC Milan's Ismael Bennacer celebrates scoring their first goal with Davide Calabria.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MILAN – Napoli striker Victor Osimhen will be fit for their Champions League quarter-final, second leg at home to AC Milan next week after missing Wednesday’s 1-0 first-leg defeat, coach Luciano Spalletti said.
Osimhen, Serie A’s top scorer with 21 goals, was sidelined for April’s league games against Milan and Lecce due to a thigh strain.
“The chances of him being available are 100 per cent because the work schedule, it was made in that direction,” Spalletti told Sky Sports in Italy.
“He was rested today and in Saturday’s match to complete the work done by the doctors, then anything can happen.”
In the Nigerian’s absence, midfielder Elijf Elmas played in an unfamiliar role up front.
Napoli skipper Giovanni di Lorenzo told Prime Video: “It wasn’t easy without a real No. 9, though we created many chances with Elmas. We’re confident for the return leg.”
However, Spalletti said: “Elmas worked hard defensively, making life hard for Milan. So, of course, Osimhen might have had more chances than someone who is less used to playing in that position, but Elmas was important.”
Although Napoli dominated the first half, the hosts took the lead five minutes before the interval when Brahim Diaz teed up Ismael Bennacer, who struck a low shot inside the far post.
“I am above all happy to enjoy evenings like this with our fans,” AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli told Sky Sport Italia after his side kept a fifth consecutive clean sheet in the Champions League for the first time since 2004-05.
“The history of Milan speaks to many Champions League victories, but the recent years saw us dream of getting here, so we wanted to enjoy it. We didn’t build out well from the back at the start, giving Napoli the chance to hurt us, but we got the first home win over Napoli in three years.”
Milan had the opportunity to double their lead when a header from Simon Kjaer struck the crossbar and bounced down, with the referee signalling that the ball did not cross the goal line.
Napoli’s situation worsened 16 minutes from time when midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa received a second yellow card for a high challenge on Theo Hernandez.
AC Milan players celebrate after winning the Uefa Champions League quarter-final first leg match.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs issued 10 yellow cards – four to Milan and six to Napoli – with Napoli’s Kim Min-jae’s booking ruling him out of the second leg, along with Anguissa.
“Any absence is damaging at this stage of the season, but we also have players who can fill in, which is why we are where we are. We trust the squad,” Spalletti said.
“We are sad not to have Anguissa, as it feels unjust not to have him, but there’s nothing we can do.
“We were on the verge of substituting Anguissa when it happened, so that is disappointing that it took us a minute or two to think of who to replace and I wasn’t paying enough attention to the referee.
“I don’t comment on the referee, that is not my role.”
Milan are the only team to beat Napoli more than once this season in all competitions. REUTERS
