Champions League: Showdown in Naples

Napoli vs AC Milan

European nights rarely disappoint, and when the best teams on the continent reach the last eight, the stakes are higher and the drama become more intense. And the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona will be rocking on Tuesday night as two of Serie A’s giants collide.   

This Champions League tie between Napoli and Milan is balanced on a knife edge after I Rossoneri edged in front during the first leg with a 1-0 win thanks to an Ismael Bennacer strike. And now it’s ‘winner takes all’ as only 90 minutes separate Stefano Pioli’s side from a famous victory.

But Napoli have been imperious throughout this season in Serie A and in Europe, and Lionel Spalletti’s team are odds on the pick up a vital win in Naples. The hosts need it to be a convincing victory though, and the latest Champions League 2023 betting odds put I Rossoneri in the driving seat at a price of 1.63 to advance to the semi-finals, while Gli Azzurri have it all to do at 2.29. 

Both teams come into the game on the back of a Serie A draw, Napoli playing out a goalless draw with Hellas Verona while Milan drew 1-1 with Bologna. Both managers made wholesale changes and they’ll have their strongest 11s on the pitch for this epic battle. 

Talking Points

Osimhen set to start

The news all Napoli fans wanted to hear was confirmed by Luciano Spalletti yesterday when he announced that star striker Victor Osimhen is fit and ready to face I Rossoneri on Tuesday. The Nigerian striker climbed off the bench during Napoli’s clash with Hellas Verona and he came within a whisker of scoring the winner when his stunning strike crashed back off the Verona crossbar. The draw meant Napoli’s lead over Lazio was cut by two points, but at 14 it is still a lead which will see Gli Azzurri over the line.

So Spalletti can focus all his attention on the Champions League, and with Osimhen recovered from a muscular strain he knows he has the firepower to break down any defence: “He’ll start, yes,” said the head coach, “Osimhen has the physicality and speed, you can throw the ball up to him and he can protect it, use his head or use a change of pace.”

He’s a shoe-in for the 2022/23 Capocannoniere, with 21 goals, seven more than his nearest rival and Osimhen is the man for the big occasion. And on Tuesday he’ll be joined by winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who was also benched on Saturday to be brought on in the second half. The Georgian has had a brilliant first campaign in Naples, scoring 12 goals and making ten assists and he too will be a big threat to produce Champions League 2023 highlights against I Rossoneri.

Stanislav Lobotka, Piotr Zielinski and Mario Rui were all rested against Verona and are sure to start on Tuesday, as Napoli attempt to turn this tie around. They were second favourites to win the 2023 Champions League but defeat in the first leg saw them drift out to SBOTOP odds of 7.50, behind favourites Manchester City and Real Madrid. 

Spalletti is determined to put that right. 

Piolo prioritises Champions League

The Milan boss made ten changes to his team which faced Bologna on Saturday and, while he threw some of his big guns on in the second half, he passed up an opportunity to cement I Rossoneri’s top-four place. The 1-1 draw leaves Milan in fourth, just two points ahead of Inter Milan and with Atalanta and Juventus still in the hunt. 

Milan are unbeaten in four and there were some good signs from Pioli’s second string but, in an attempt to see home a win, the coach brought on Rafael Leao, Davide Calabria and Brahim Diaz in the second half, though veteran striker Olivier Giroud and wing-back Theo Hernandez stayed on the bench.  

They really needed a win over Bologna but, it seems, Tuesday’s game ranks higher for the Milan chief.   

History

After I Rossoneri’s victory last week the head-to-head results are now at 15 victories each and, while the bragging rights are important, a semi-final spot is paramount.  

Napoli have the edge in terms of recent form with three wins, one draw and two defeats from the last six, while Milan have two wins, three draws and one defeat.  

Betting Tip

Napoli’s last home win against Milan was five years ago but I think they will put that right on Tuesday, with Osimhen back and firing and  passionate home crowd meaning they will face I Rossoneri with 12 men.

The draw is at 3.44 and an away win at 3.97 is also well in the game, but I can’t see Milan getting the better of Napoli twice in a week.  

 

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