AC Milan will take a slender aggregate lead into the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Napoli after securing a narrow 1-0 win at the San Siro on Wednesday, already a second victory over their Serie A rivals this month.
The visitors, who finished with 10 men after having Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sent off in the second half, missed a catalogue of chances as they dominated for long periods at the San Siro, and were ultimately left frustrated, Eurosport reports.
It took less than 60 seconds for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to have the first opening, although his shot was cleared off the line, while Anguissa and Piotr Zielinski were denied by home goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
At the other end, Stefano Pioli’s side failed to register a shot until the 26th minute, when Rafael Leao burst from his own half and had held off two defenders before ultimately sliding wide of the far post.
Milan took the lead with their next effort though, as Bennacer hammered home from inside the box just moments before half-time after a run from inside his own half by Brahim Diaz.
Simon Kjaer then rattled the bar with a bullet header in first half injury-time.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, with Napoli camped in their opponent’s half, only for Maignan to save from Eljif Elmas and Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
The main talking point after the break though was a card-happy referee who seemed to issue bookings at every opportunity. That included a pair of yellows for Anguissa, coming within four minutes of each other, which means he will sit out the second leg, as will Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae.
AC Milan and Napoli will meet again in Naples next Tuesday, April 18, with the winner to play either Inter Milan or Benfica in the Champions League semifinals.
