UCL: Osimhen starts as Napoli, AC Milan clash

Victor Osimhen will start for Napoli as they try to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their all-Italian Champions League quarter-final with AC Milan on Tuesday.

Nigeria striker Osimhen played his first minutes since the international break as a substitute in Saturday’s goalless draw with Verona after returning from a thigh injury.The 24-year-old teams up with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano in a three-man attack favoured by coach Luciano Spalletti.
France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele and defender Juan Jesus take the place of suspended Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kim Min-jae.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli has picked the same XI that started last week’s first leg at the San Siro and hammered Napoli 4-0 in the league earlier this month.

Pioli changed every single outfield player in his team’s 1-1 draw at Bologna on Saturday in preparation for Wednesday’s clash.

Olivier Giroud leads the line for Milan despite having an Achilles tendon problem, in front of Brahim Diaz, Ismael Bennacer and Rafael Leao, who combined for the goal which separates the two sides.

Teams

Napoli (4-3-3)
Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo (capt), Amir Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Mario Rui; Tanguy Ndombele, Stanislav Lobotka, Piotr Zielinski; Matteo Politano, Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia


Coach: Luciano Spalletti (ITA)

AC Milan (4-2-3-1)
Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria (capt), Simon Kjaer, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Rade Krunic, Sandro Tonali; Brahim Diaz, Ismael Bennacer, Rafael Leao; Olivier Giroud

Coach: Stefano Pioli (ITA)

Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)