Bennacer gives Milan first-leg lead over Napoli
Ismael Bennacer’s first-half goal gave AC Milan a slender advantage over Napoli in the first leg of their all-Italian Champions League quarter-final.
The Algeria midfielder struck home from the edge of the area after Braham Diaz broke superbly on the halfway line.
Napoli had Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sent off in the second half and were well held by an organised Milan.
Milan also came close to a second goal when Simon Kjaer’s header bounced off the underside of the bar.
Napoli, in the Champions League last eight for the first time, were straight out of the traps, demonstrating a belief that comes from being 16 points clear at the top of Serie A.
Georgia winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, had his best chance of the game in the opening minute after a poor clearance fell at his feet, but his effort from eight yards out was blocked on the line.
Napoli, the highest scorers in the competition this season, continued to push with former Fulham midfielder, Anguissa and Piotr Zielinski having efforts tipped over the bar.
Milan’s Danish defender, Kjaer, was extremely unlucky with his powerful first-half stoppage-time header bouncing about a yard from the line after it struck the bar.
The second half was scrappy, with chances at a premium, but Anguissa earned two yellow cards in less than four minutes.
Napoli will also be without defender, Kim Min-jae, for the second leg, which takes place next Tuesday after he was booked for dissent in a frustrating second period. -BBC
