Napoli start as slight favourites when they head to AC Milan for their all-Italian Champions League quarter-final clash.
The guests though are anxious about the fitness of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
Luciano Spalletti’s side are on the verge of a famous Serie A title win after edging closer following their 2-1 win away at Lecce.
BET ON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERS
But league results won’t count for much during Wednesday’s first leg at AC Milan at the San Siro.
It’s a new stage for the visitors as Napoli have never before been in the last eight of the Champions League.
They have come to rely on Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for goals this season.
“It does become difficult without him, because he has this way of running into space and a physical presence, he can draw everyone to him and then create space,” said Spalletti after the Lecce win.
Spalletti will be hoping the Nigerian international returns on Wednesday also because he will probably be without the 24-year-old’s main replacement Giovanni Simeone, who suffered a thigh injury of his own after coming on as a substitute on Friday.
Osimhen provides Napoli the perfect outlet for his team when things aren’t going according to plan and has banged in 25 goals in all competitions.
He works incredibly hard to chase down and hold onto long balls sent forward from under-pressure teammates, allowing midfielders to break through opposition pressing and latch on to his lay-offs.
“When I say that I always put the team first, those aren’t just words. You can see that in how I play, right?” said Osimhen in an interview with France Football published on Saturday.
“It’s hunger, something I’ve always had inside myself. And thankfully here with the coach Spalletti you don’t have any choice – at Napoli the attackers are the first line of defence.”
Milan coach Stefano Pioli will only be missing Pierre Kalulu for the clash.
Milan will be ready to repeat the 4-0 hiding they gave Napoli early in April.
Just one more goal would see Olivier Giroud become the first AC Milan player since Zlatan Ibrahimović to score 5+ goals in a single UCL campaign.
Milan have failed to score in ten of their last 16 UCL knockout stage matches so Giroud’s form needs to continue.