by 
19:20
Coaches meeting
7:17 pm
Tonight’s venue: San Siro
Kick-off is at 20:00.
19:07
Chronicles: the starting eleven of Napoli
Naples: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Mario Rui, Zambo, Lobotka, Zielinski, Lozano, Kvaratskhelia, Elmas.
Subtitles: Juan Jesus, Idasiak, Olivera, Bereszynski, Politano, Ostigard, Gaetano, Raspadori, Ndombele, Gollini.
7:06pm
Chronicles: AC Milan’s starting eleven
AC Milan: Maignan, Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez, Krunic, Tonali, Diaz, Bennacer, Leao, Giroud.
Subtitles: Ballo-Touré, Rebic, Kalulu Kyatengwa, Florenzi, Origi, Thiaw, Messias, Pobega, Gabbia, Saelemaekers, Mirante, De Ketelaere.
6:46pm
A clash of Italian titans
By Ella Babbington
Hello and welcome to our Milan-Napoli coverage. Tonight’s match will see seven-time European champions Milan host Napoli in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
This is the first time Napoli has reached the final eight. Here are some of the main talking points before the match: Who are the favourites? In their Serie A match on April 2, Milan crushed Napoli with a 4-0 win.
While this result left spectators stunned, we must be careful not to overestimate its importance in view of tonight’s match. Napoli are nearly Serie A champions after an impressive season on the Italian side, so it could be understandable to take one’s eye away from the ball at home to perhaps further continental success.
Statistically, Napoli went on a winning streak in their last 10 matches only losing twice against Milan and Lazio. In the last 10 games, Milan have had mixed results, with a series of wins, losses and draws against a variety of teams.
Perhaps more pertinently, Milan have only managed to defeat their southern rivals once in the clubs’ last nine meetings at the San Siro. Indeed, Napoli have won in each of their last three away games at the renowned Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, including a 2-1 league win earlier this season.
Line-up expectations AC Milan’s Olivier Giroud could be in the starting lineup, as his four goals this season in the Champions League make him the team’s top scorer in Europe. Joining him, players Rafael Leao, Simon Kjaer, Rade Krunic and Brahim Diaz are also expected to start with the hope of emulating their performance against Napoli earlier this month. However, Napoli are not shy about the goalscorers themselves.
The likes of Victor Osimhen, Piotr Zielinski, Giovanni Simeone and Giacomo Raspadori have all equaled Giroud’s goal tally this season. Unfortunately, with a thigh injury, Serie A top scorer Osimhen is out injured and his assistant Simeone is in high doubt after picking up an injury against Lecce on Friday.
Unless the Argentine can recover in time, Raspadori could have to replace the front three of the guests. He stays with us for full coverage of tonight’s game.
