Milan-Napoli of the Champions League, what changes (and what doesn’t) after the match in the championship – Corriere.it

Not even maestro Carletto Ancelotti, who has coached both of them, let himself go to half a prediction: «It will be an uncertain and balanced match» the Real Madrid coach took refuge in a corner yesterday on Rai Radio 1, confirming of the fact that Tomorrow night’s Milan-Napoli is a really great rebus. Too many variables, too many uncertainties. One thing is certain: even just a month ago, the Neapolitans would have been clearly favored. Today they still are, because the numbers for the season were and are all in their favour, but something has changed. Certainly that “clearly” must be removed.

Two elements have changed the scenario. First of all, the unexpected 0-4 in the championship duel at Maradona: the dress rehearsal in anticipation of the double quarter-cup clash shuffled the cards, giving certainties to Milan and taking away some from Napoli. The other element, undoubtedly the heaviest one, is the Osimhen enigma. Even if Pioli has reiterated several times that his way of preparing for the match does not change based on the absence or not of the Nigerian, it is clear that there is actually a difference. The conditions of the left adductor improve every day, the boy is clinically well and is pushing to return to Milan tomorrow, but Spalletti doesn’t want to take any chances: this morning there will be the decisive audition and only afterwards will it be decided whether to join him in the away game, to take him to bench. In short: wise caution, because this is a challenge that is played over 180 minutes.

The fact is that Napoli up front does not only have the Osimhen problem: Simeone is injured, so he will be the owner probably Raspadori, but he’s not yet at his best, seeing as he trained alone yesterday. He shouldn’t make it, false nine hypothesis with Kvaratskhelia or Lozano. Napoli, after nine months at breakneck speed, in which they enchanted everyone with play and results, are now showing some signs of athletic difficulty, even in general: this was seen in Lecce on Friday, with the 2-1 win from an own goal.

This is also why the Devil believes in it. History doesn’t play, neither does the bulletin board, but the Milan of the Champions League seems to have a different soul than that of the championship. “Wednesday will be a different match,” warned Pioli after yet another disappointing draw in Serie A, the 0-0 home draw with Empoli. On great nights, the Devil lights up. And also his coach, who won the strategic duel against his colleague Spalletti at Maradona.

The choice to lift Bennacer on the trocar to cancel the opposing playmaker Lobotka was the key move, the game took place there, in the middle of the field. This time there will be no surprise effect, but the plan could be replicated. The first leg for the Rossoneri is fundamental: an opportunity to be exploited. And to do this, Pioli is still betting on the cuts from Diaz and Leao, who will swap positions to remove points of reference from the Neapolitan defense. However, this time, she doesn’t want to be caught unprepared. In short, it will be a game of chess, move against move, tactically and dialectically. «Milan have more experience» Spalletti repeats, who tries to reverse the pressure on the opponent and his palmares. Pioli, for his part, wants to relieve that pressure: even tonight no withdrawal, the players will be able to sleep at their house, to meet directly tomorrow morning for breakfast. Milan-Naples is also a matter of mind.