Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli assures Giovanni Simeone is not the ‘understudy’ to Victor Osimhen and can be trusted to deliver against Milan this evening.
It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
These sides will face off again in the Champions League quarter-finals later this month, with the first leg at San Siro on April 12 and the decider here on April 18.
“I expect a very complicated game, just like earlier this season. Both teams are doing well and I am convinced our lads will give their all for the city, for the club, for everyone. That I am sure of,” Giuntoli told DAZN.
Current Capocannoniere Osimhen has been ruled out for a couple of weeks by a muscular injury that he sustained while on international duty with Nigeria.
It is a huge loss for the Partenopei, so Simeone steps in for a rare Serie A start.
“Obviously, he is an important player, but we have many in this squad and I felt the same way after Giacomo Raspadori’s injury. We have the players to ensure we don’t suffer too much in his absence,” added the director.
“I wouldn’t call Simeone an understudy, he is another first-choice player who has contributed to an extraordinary campaign.”
It was Simeone who scored the winner when Napoli played Milan at San Siro earlier this season, following a Matteo Politano penalty.