Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Napoli
Match Time & Date:
18/04/2023
21:00
Prediction: 2-1
Milan
The ground at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona will shake when Napoli and Milan go head to head in the Champions League semis, return leg on Tuesday. The Neapolitans aim to overcome a one-goal deficit in front of home fans, and the good news for Luciano Spalletti is that key attacker Victor Osimhen has overcome his injury. Even though both Kim Min-Jae and Zambo Anguissa are banned for the match, we are tempted to put our money on Napoli, who are a real force to be reckoned with at home.
The Rossoneri, on the other hand, are likely to adopt a defence-minded approach in the decider. Both Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao return to the starting XI after the duo was rested in a 1-1 draw with Bologna, while there are no fresh injury worries in the visiting team. Experienced forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ineligible for the Champions League clash.
Highlighted Player (Stanislav Lobotka):
Born in Trencin on November 25, 1994, Stanislav Lobotka is a Slovakia international who plays for Celta Vigo in La Liga. Lobotka began his youth career at his hometown club AAC Sparta Trencin and he made his senior debut for fellow local club Trencin. In 2013 he signed a loan deal with Dutch side Ajax, but he played for Jong Ajax during the 2013/2014 season.
In the summer of 2014, the Slovakian midfielder returned to Trencin, where he made 74 appearances in the league in total. In 2015 Stanislav Lobotka joined Danish side Nordsjaelland shortly before the transfer window closed. Lobotka made his debut in the Danish top flight against Brondby on August 30, 2015.
Two years later he decided to make a step forward in his career, signing a five-year contract with La Liga side Celta Vigo. Speaking of his international career, the Celta Vigo midfielder made his Slovakia debut against Austria in November2016. It has to be noted that Lobotka became the first Slovak to score at Wembley, finding the net in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against England.
Highlighted Team (Milan):
AC Milan are regarded as one of the biggest club in Italy. The Rossoneri compete in the Italian Serie A and they have won 18 domestic trophies. Speaking of the club’s European success, Milan have clinched seven Champions League (European Cup) trophies.
Milan were on the verge of beating Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final, but the Premier League outfit came from three goals behind and eventually won the prestigious trophy on penalties. The Rossoneri play their home games at Stadio San Siro (80,018), the stadium that was opened in 1926. It is well known that Milan’s bitterest rivals are Inter and there have always been fireworks when the two local rivals face each other in the Derby della Madonnina.
Milan were founded in 1899 by a lace-maker from England named Herbert Kilpin and a businessman Alfred Edwards. Milan’s home kits are red and black and that is why the team’s nickname is Rossoneri (The Red and Blacks).
The likes of Alessandro Costacurta, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Roberto Donadoni, Dejan Savicevic, Frank Rijkaard, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Andrea Pirlo are the most famous footballers who have represented the San Siro outfit.
