Milan secured their spot in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2007 with a 1-1 draw against Napoli at the Stadio Maradona on Tuesday (The Guardian). The match was notable for two penalty saves and a spectacular Rafael Leao assist. AC Milan clinched their ticket to the semi-finals thanks to a 2-1 aggregate victory over Napoli. Ismael Bennacer’s winning goal in the first leg at San Siro gave Milan an advantage, but the second leg was a closely contested affair.
The second leg saw Napoli starting strongly, with Victor Osimhen scoring within the first ten minutes of the game. However, the goal was disallowed due to offside (ESPN). Milan then took control of the game and created several chances, but were unable to convert any of them. In the 54th minute, Napoli’s Elseid Hysaj brought down Leao in the penalty area, but Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Dries Mertens’ spot-kick (Sempre Milan).
Napoli continued to push forward and were eventually awarded another penalty in the 71st minute, after Franck Kessie brought down Lorenzo Insigne in the box. Donnarumma once again came to Milan’s rescue, this time saving Insigne’s penalty. Milan then equalized in the 74th minute, with a superb effort from Leao, who unleashed a stunning shot into the top corner of the net (ESPN).
The result was enough to see Milan progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they will face either Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain (The Guardian). This was a historic moment for Milan, who have struggled to establish themselves as a force in European football in recent years. The Italian giants have been building towards this moment, with an improving squad and an experienced coach in Stefano Pioli (Covers.com).
Milan’s victory was also a testament to their resilience and character. Despite missing key players through injury and suspension, they showed great determination and fought hard to secure the result (Action Network). The club’s fans will be hoping that this is just the beginning of a period of sustained success, both domestically and in Europe.
