Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has confirmed the availability of Victor Osimhen for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie against AC Milan. This came after the side lost once more to the seven-time champions at the San Siro.
Just over a week after receiving a 4-0 drubbing at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli visited AC Milan in their debut UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal appearance. The Serie A leaders were without the injured Osimhen, as had been confirmed by their president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Napoli looked better than they did on home soil in their last meeting as they dominated the opening exchanges, with outstanding goalkeeping from Mike Maignan and excellent rearguard action from his defenders keeping the Partenopei at bay. After being on the back foot for so long, AC Milan struck the winner in the 40th minute through Algerian midfielder Ismael Bennacer, after excellent work from former Real Madrid and Manchester City starlet Brahim Diaz.
Napoli finished the game worse off, with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa seeing red for two bookable offences in quick succession and defensive stalwart Kim Min-Jae picking up a booking which rules him out of the second leg.
After the match, Napoli manager Spalletti revealed that his top scorer would be available for the second leg, citing that his recovery had been streamlined to make him fit in time for the home leg of the tie.
“Victor Osimhen will 100% be available for the return leg at Maradona on Tuesday. He will be there”, Spalletti said to reporters after the game.
With an unconvincing win and two defeats in three games since Osimhen’s injury, it is clear just how important he is to this Napoli team. The striker may be the difference maker in the second leg as his side look to reach their first-ever Champions League semifinal.
