Real comfortably advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions League in London, AC Milan knocked out Napoli

In the second match of the Italian match, the “Rossoneri” drew 1:1 in Naples and, thanks to a 1:0 home win, advanced to the semi-finals after 16 years.

Real defeated Chelsea at the same stage of the competition as a year ago and made the quarter-finals for the eleventh time in a row. With 14 triumphs, the most successful team in the history of the Champions League also reached the semi-finals for the eleventh time in the last 13 seasons. In it, he will face the winner of the double-header between Bayern Munich and Manchester City, who won the first leg 3-0.

Olivier Giroud, who had previously missed a penalty, opened the duel in Naples with a goal in the 43rd minute. Home team Kviča Kvaracchelija failed to score from a penalty kick even ten minutes before the end, and Victor Osimhen only managed to equalize in the third minute of regulation. AC Milan awaits the better of the pair Inter Milan – Benfica Lisbon in the semi-finals, Inter won the first match 2:0.

The first half of the clash between the last two champions of the Champions League offered one big chance each for Chelsea and Real. Rodrygo’s shot from the right ended up on the post, and the home team Cucurella was caught in the face shortly before the break by a great save by Courtois, who spent four seasons at the London club between 2014 and 2018.

The “Blues” did not turn the score in their favor even after the change of sides and did not win the seventh competitive duel in a row. At the beginning of the first half, Real got out of the pressure and in the 58th minute, Rodrygo ended the break twice. In addition, the Brazilian winger added an insurance in the 80th minute after Valverde’s pass in front of an empty net. The Madrid big club eliminated another English team after Liverpool in the playoffs.

The captain of the “White Ballet” Benzema celebrated his 150th start in the Champions League with the victory, making him the fifth player in history. Chelsea also lost their fourth competitive match under the leadership of old coach Lampard, who will be with the team as a temporary coach until the end of the season.

Napoli put the opponent under pressure in the opening 20 minutes, but it culminated in a paradoxically great opportunity for AC Milan. Rui fouled Leao in the penalty area, but Giroud did not beat goalkeeper Meret from the penalty spot.

The 36-year-old French striker got his chance in the 43rd minute. Leao went from his own half past three opponents to the penalty area and presented the ball to Giroud, who had no problem ending his wait for a goal after five competitive games. At that time, the home team Rui and Politan were no longer on the field, both had to be replaced due to injuries.

Napoli lost 0:4 at home to AC two weeks ago, didn’t score a goal even a week ago at San Siro, and couldn’t make it for a long time even in the third match between them in April. Also because Kvaracchelija didn’t mature on Maignan from the penalty ordered after Tomori’s hand in the penalty area.

Only the recovered gunner Osimhen, who returned to the starting line-up for the first time since mid-March, made his mark. Even the fifth goal of Serie A’s top scorer in the current season of the Champions League did not help Napoli advance to the semi-finals for the first time.

AC Milan also managed the fourth double-header against the Italian team, which he joined in the play-offs of the millionaire competition. The “Rossoneri” are seventh in the LM semi-finals, equaling Juventus’ Italian record.

Second leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League:

Chelsea – Real Madrid 0:2 (0:0)

Goals: 58. and 80. Rodrygo. Referees: Orsato – Carbone, Giallatini – Irrati (video, all It). ŽK: Cucurella, James, Mudryk – Militao. Spectators: 38,000. First match: 0:2, Real advanced.

Assemblies:

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga – Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Fofana – James, Kanté, Fernández (67. Sterling), Kovačič, Cucurella (67. Mudryk) – Gallagher (67. Félix), Havertz (77. Mount). Coach: Lampard.

Real: Courtois – Carvajal (81. Nacho), Militao, Alaba (46. Rüdiger), Camavinga – Modrič, Kroos (76. Ceballos), Valverde – Rodrygo (81. Asensio), Benzema (71. Tchouaméni), Vinícius Junior. Coach: Ancelotti.

Naples – AC Milan 1:1 (0:1)

Goal: 90.+3 Osimhen – 43. Giroud. Referee: Marciniak – Sokolnicki, Listkiewicz – Kwiatkowski (video, all Polish). ŽK: Di Lorenzo, Olivera – Tonali, Maignan. Spectators: 54,000. First match: 0:1, AC Milan advanced.

Assemblies:

Milan: Maignan – Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernández – Krunič, Tonali – Brahim Díaz (59. Messias), Binnásir, Leao (84. Saelemaekers) – Giroud (68. Origi). Coach: Pioli.

Neapoli: Meret – Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani (74. Östigard), Juan Jesus, Mario Rui (34. Olivera) – Ndombele (63. Elmas), Lobotka, Zieliňski (74. Raspadori) – Politano (34. Lozano), Osimhen, Kvaracchelija. Coach: Spalletti.