Match Preview: AC Milan vs Napoli H2H, Form, Players To Watch and Prediction

AC Milan host Napoli at the San Siro in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter finals as Napoli look for revenge after the 4-0 battering last week in Serie A. Stefano Pioli will know that progressing in the UCL is of utmost importance given the Rossoneri do not have any chance of lifting silverware unless they have a miraculous run in Europe.

H2H

Napoli 1-3 Milan

Milan 0-1 Napoli

Milan 0-1 Napoli

Napoli 0-1 Milan

Milan 1-2 Napoli

Napoli 0-4 Milan

Form Guide (all competitions)

Milan: D, D, L, W, D

Napoli: W, W, W, L, W

Players to Watch

Rade Krunic

The midfielder made the big difference in the previous game and despite his role bing understated, he was a big reason that Napoli struggled in attack. Krunic allows Pioli to feign a 4-2-3-1 but actually deploy a 4-3-3 with that extra body in midfield shielding the defence. His break up play was crucial to neutralising Zielinski on the counter and allows Tonali and Bennacer to focus on disrupting Anguissa and Lobotka respectively. Krunic needs to play a similar role and match his effort from the previous tie.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

The Georgian in undoubtedly the breakout star in the Serie A this season and is one of the best players in the league at the moment. He was the largest threat in the previous game was always doubled up on by Calabria and a midfielder. He will be looking to hit back hard and show his quality and will be the one to watch. He has lots of skill and as much grit which will trouble us down that wing and can force a goal as he has done all season. He has 14 goals and 16 assists in all competitions thus far this season.

Rafael Leao

Leao tore Napoli apart with his brace in the previous tie putting on his best display of the season by a mile. He will need to show that determination again and hopefully he can weave his way through the defence to create havoc yet again. The Portuguese international has been much better in the Champions League than Serie A in 2023 hence it would be great to see the trend continue. He needs to step up as the MVP of the league again and drop a dime performance.

Prediction: Milan 1-0 Napoli