AC Milan - Napoli: Paying off the debt at the beginning of the month
The common point in the defeat earlier this month and tonight's match is that Napoli do not have main striker Victor Osimhen because of injury. But the big difference lies in the motivation. In Serie A, Napoli is almost certain to win the title, so it can take a step back against an AC Milan that is in need of points to compete for a place in the European Cup. And in the Champions League, teachers and students Luciano Spaletti have enough desire in the first quarter-finals.
AC Milan has won the Champions League seven times, but only entered the round of eight strongest teams for the first time since 2012. In fact, Napoli is the best team in Italy at the moment. They win the most, score the most goals and have a goal difference (+45) almost twice as many as the second-placed team in Serie A, Lazio.
In theory, the draw to AC Milan in the quarter-finals is considered the lightest with Napoli. In the last nine confrontations at San Siro in all competitions, Milan only won one match against Napoli in Coppa Italy, the rest drew three and lost five. Pioli's teachers and students are also in bad form, having only won one of the last six matches.
The disparity in form, confrontation and squad quality suddenly narrowed significantly when Napoli lost Osimhen. The Nigerian striker has scored 25 goals in 29 matches since the start of the season and is a good combination with star Khvicha Kravatskhelia. Napoli's attack, which has scored 18 or more goals than any other team in Serie A, was also affected when Giovanni Simeone also suffered a mild pain. Therefore, Giacomo Raspadori, although not in good shape, is likely to still start at San Siro tonight. But Raspadori's single-goal 18-game performance didn't give Spaletti much confidence in his ninth straight away win.
AC Milan did not launch the strongest squad in Serie A over the weekend to prepare for the great battle against Italy in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. As a result, they drew 0-0 with Empoli. Against Napoli, Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud will return to the main team, Simon Kjaer and Rade Krunic are likely to start from the beginning. The only absence lies in the defense, when Pierre Kalulu is injured.
The home defense will need to keep a close eye on Khvicha Kravatskhelia. The Georgia winger is at the heart of this season's Serie A, as is tonight's game. He is one of five players with double-digit goals and assists, in Europe's top five leagues this season, alongside Lionel Messi, Neymar, Randal Kolo Muani and Bukayo Saka.
In the Champions League, Kvaratskhelia co-led the assists list with four assists. He was the source of 30 of Napoli's shots in the tournament, excluding penalties. Kvaratskhelia finishes 15 times after dribbling, at least five more times than anyone else in the Champions League. Along with five chances and one assist for a team-mate, the Georgia player opened up 21 shots for Napoli, after pulling the ball from five yards or more. The 22-year-old's good independent play will give Napoli hope in the first leg, before Osimhen returns a week later.
