Napoli and AC Milan face their best chance of winning the Champions League in recent memory when they lock horns in the last 8 on Wednesday.
The two sides are enjoying excellent seasons in Europe, while Napoli have also run away with the Serie A title for the first time in over 30 years.
Now, they face one another in the quarter-final of Europe’s elite competition, knowing that victory will see them face one of Benfica or Inter Milan in the semi-final, with the current English, Spanish and German champions on the other side of the draw along with 2021 winners Chelsea.
Advancement to the last 4, then, would bring with it an excellent chance of reaching the final in Budapest, and taking the Champions League back to Italy for the first time since 2010, when Inter Milan managed to snatch it.
Having thrashed the Champions in wait 4-0 in Naples just over a week ago, AC Milan come into the tie with mixed form, having lost 3-1 to Udinese and drew 0-0 to Empoli in games either side.
However, they will be hoping that they have sussed out their Italian rivals, and can head into a potential all-Milan semi-final.
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Like Napoli, AC Milan will have to make do without their no.1 striker. Unlike their opponents, however, Pioli’s side have been doing it for much of the season, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic still not fit after picking up a knee injury last season.
It means that Olivier Giroud will once again lead the line, as a new contract appears ever closer for the ageless Frenchman.
Beyond that, his side boast a clean bill of health, meaning that there will be plenty of competition for places. In the heart of defence, Fikayo Tomori and Simon Kjaer are the likely pairing, but Pierre Kalulu and Malick Thiaw have both made strong cases to start at various points of the season.
