Milan are back in the Champions League semi-final for the first time since 2007, as Olivier Giroud finished off a sensational Rafael Leao run against Napoli, despite Giroud and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia seeing penalties saved.
This was their third meeting in 16 days, as the Rossoneri won 4-0 here in Serie A on April 2, then the first leg 1-0 at San Siro last week. Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kim Min-jae sat out bans with Giovanni Simeone injured, but Victor Osimhen returned from a muscular problem. Olivier Giroud shook off a knock, so it was the same starting XI for Stefano Pioli.
The hosts poured forward from the very start, Matteo Politano twice drilling wide and numerous corners in the opening stages.
However, totally against the run of play, Milan received a penalty when Mario Rui crashed into Rafael Leao as he had released the ball to Brahim Diaz. Olivier Giroud stepped up and hit a powerful but very central spot-kick that was a good height for Alex Meret to parry. There were suggestions it should’ve been retaken for encroachment.
Piotr Zielinski tested Mike Maignan with a finish that went through Fikayo Tomori’s legs, while Meret made an even tougher save than the penalty, using a trailing leg to deny Giroud from 12 yards.
Matteo Politano fell awkwardly and seemed to sprain his knee, going off after just 34 minutes along with Mario Rui, who also picked up an injury at the same time. Both had been doubts to feature, replaced by Chucky Lozano and Mathias Olivera.
Napoli had penalty appeals waved away, as a risky Leao sliding tackle just about got the ball before Lozano, according to both the referee and VAR.
Leao was decisive at the other end, as the Portuguese striker started the run from his own half and rode three attempts to tackle him, keeping his cool to then roll across for the Giroud tap-in from eight yards.
Osimhen did have the ball in the net just before half-time, only after he had charged down Simon Kjaer’s clearance with a raised arm.
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia twice blasted over from a tight angle after the restart, with Lozano curling off target too, but Olivera really should’ve got Napoli back into the game with a free header wide of the back post on a corner after 63 minutes.
Amir Rrahmani’s looping header landed on the roof of the net, but Napoli received a penalty when Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s pull-back was blocked off by Fikayo Tomori’s trailing arm as slid across. Kvaratskhelia stepped up and, although it was a better spot-kick than Giroud’s, the result was the same with Mike Maignan’s save.
Olivera aimed another header off target from a corner late on and Maignan beat away a Kvaratskhelia cross that only grazed the head of Leo Ostigard.
Napoli did eventually get the ball in the net with Osimhen nodding in the Giacomo Raspadori cross, but it was too late to turn the tie around.
Napoli 1-1 Milan (1-2 agg)
Giroud 43 (M), Osimhen 93 (N)
Saved penalty: Giroud 22 (M), Kvaratskhelia 83 (N)
Player statistic
| 22' |  |
Olivier Giroud | ||
| 43' |  |
Olivier Giroud (Assist: Rafael Leão) | ||
| Giovanni Di Lorenzo |  |
45+7' | ||
| 45+1' | |
Sandro Tonali | ||
| 45+6' | |
Mike Maignan |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | |
80' | ||
| Victor Osimhen (Assist: Giacomo Raspadori) |
|
90+3' | ||
| Mathías Olivera | |
90+3' |
Match statistic
