AC MILAN v NAPOLI: OPPOSITION REVIEW

After the 4-0 league win over Napoli at stadio Maradona recently, AC Milan once again come up against the Partenopei - this time at San Siro in the 2022/23 Champions League quarter-final first leg - in search of a semi-final berth they haven't tasted since the 2006/07 edition when the Rossoneri knocked out Manchester United 5-3 on aggregate, before going on to lift the trophy beating Liverpool. Stefano Pioli's side, in the two sides' first-ever meeting in Europe, on the whole have a good record in Italian derbies in European games: the seven-times European champions have lost only one of nine fixtures (4W, 4D), 2-0 against Parma in the secong leg of the 1993 European Super Cup, eventually won by the Ducali. 

Concerning Napoli, it is the first time in the Club's history they have reached the Quarter-finals of the competition, known previously as the European Cup. The Azzurri are dominating the domestic campaign, with a 16-point lead over the chasing pack (Lazio in 2nd) having lost only two out of their 21 away games in all competitions this season (18W, 1D). It is a fixture, therefore, that Stefano Pioli has said is full of threats, difficulties and completely different to the one seen ten days ago in the league. In fact, in their last six games, including Serie A and Champions League, the Rossoneri have only won the game at Maradona, collecting three draws (Empoli, Salernitana and Tottenham) and two defeats (Fiorentina and Udinese).

NAPOLI, A MACHINE OF "ALMOST" PERFECT GOALS
Luciano Spalletti's side's strength is their ability to turn over the ball quickly and break, making the most of Stanislav Lobotka, Frank Zambo Anguissa and Piotr Zieliński's pressing abilities, who like to win the ball back high up the pitch allowing players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Matteo Politano to have a numerical advantage to dribble forward at pace, leaving spaces open for their strikers and inside forwards to run into. From this type of action, they have scored five goals in this season's Champions League after winning possession back deep into the opposition's half, joint-top with Benfica. On the whole, the team from Campania have shown to be one of the most feared and in-form teams in Europe, and have the best attack in this year's competition with 25 goals scored; only Bayern Munich (eight) have won more games than the Azzurri so far in this year's edition (seven). 

The average goal ration of 3.1 goals per game is currently the fifth best-ever in a single edition of Europe's top club coompetition, behind only Bayern Munich in 2019/20 (3.9), Paris Saint-Germain in 2017/18 (3.4), Real Madrid in 2013/14 (3.2) and Liverpool in 2017/18 (3.2). On the other hand, though, Napoli often concede to teams who press high against them, and are the third-worst team in the 2022/23 Champions League for losing possession in their own half (80), ahead of only Dinamo Zagreb (84) and Borussia Dortmund (94). AC Milan could, therefore, take advantage of this flaw, looking to use the pace and quick responsiveness of its midfield and attacking players, above all on Rafael Leão and Brahim Díaz.

KVARATSKHELIA AND RASPADORI: AZZURRI WEAPONS
Despite not having been involved in any goals in his last two appearances, in all competitions, the biggest threat surely remains Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The 2001-born player, who has had an outstanding season so far, has netted twice and given four assists in Napoli's European campaign this year, becoming the youngest player in this edition among those who have been involved in at least six goals.

As well as the Georgian, the Rossoneri defence also need to be aware of on Giacomo Raspadori, who is expected to replace Victor Osimhen. The Italy striker, with four goals in his debut Champions League season, is one of four Napoli forwards along with Piotr Zieliński, Giovanni Simeone and Victor Osimhen. Against the Rossoneri, he already has two goals to his name in six previous career fixtures, grabbing the first of his three braces in Serie A on 21 April 2021, wearing the shirt of Sassuolo at San Siro.

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