Giroud gives Napoli cold shower – Rodrygo shoots Real to semifinals

NAP-MIL | Napoli misses penalty

After a handball by Tomori, the ball goes on the dot for Napoli.

Kvaratschelia is behind the ball, and misses! Milan goalkeeper Maignan taps the ball out of the corner.

Napoli-AC Milan 0-1 (0-1)

CHE-RMA | 80′ GOAL REAL MADRID

If it wasn’t already decided, it is now: Rodrygo shoots in the 2-0 against Chelsea.

It is a beautifully played attack, ending with a pass from Valverde to the Brazilian, who is able to score from very close range.

Chelsea-Real Madrid 0-2 (0-2)

NAP-MIL | 73′ Giroud to the side

A bearded striker was also substituted at Milan: the tired Giroud was replaced by the birthday boy Origi.

Napoli also keep trying, but Milan have their affairs in order at the back. Rrahmani just headed the ball into the roof of the goal, a modest chance. It is immediately the last action of the Kosovo defender. Raspadori comes on as an extra attacker for the final offensive.

Napoli-AC Milan 0-1 (0-1)

CHE-RMA | 74′ Benzema to the side

At Real, Benzema has left the field, Tchouaméni is his replacement. It indicates that Real coach Ancelotti also knows that a spot in the semifinals is in the bag, with the 1-0 lead and the 2-0 win in his pocket.

Chelsea keeps trying, but a sensation is no longer in the cards in London.

Chelsea-Real Madrid 0-1 (0-2)

NAP-MIL | 62′ Chances for Napoli

The play in Naples is still the same. Napoli is looking for a goal, Milan is defending with concentration, and I Rossoneri can do that like the best of them.

After just under an hour, Kvaratschelia once again tried his luck. The Georgian tastemaker once again ended his new slalom with a shot that was too high. Moments later Olivera got a great header chance, but he headed superbly wide from a promising position.

Napoli-AC Milan 0-1 (0-1)

CHE-RMA | 58′ GOAL REAL MADRID

Where Chelsea doesn’t bite, Real Madrid does. After a razor-sharp counter, the ball finally lands at the feet of Rodrygo, who shoots in for the 1-0.

A cross from the right is initially missed by Benzema, Vinícius lays the ball back to Rodrygo and the Brazilian shoots Real – dare we say it – to the semifinals.

Chelsea-Real Madrid 0-1 (0-2)

CHE-RMA | 52′ Another chance for Kanté

Chelsea is barking again, but still not biting Real. In the 52nd minute, we see another great chance for Kanté, but the Frenchman pops the ball against a Real defender.

Moments later, Fernández delivers a distance shot, which skims low past Courtois’ goal.

Chelsea-Real Madrid 0-0 (0-2)

CHE-RMA | Second half in London

The second half has begun at Chelsea-Real Madrid. The home team had two chances before halftime to score and thus get back into the game, but it is still 0-0. And that favors Real, which won the first game 2-0.

After a hectic first half, Milan is ahead 1-0 in Naples. The home team is stronger, but has not yet managed to create any really big chances and is also unlucky with two injuries.

Just before halftime, there was a fuss surrounding a foul by Leão on Lozano, which should have been awarded a penalty spot. Referee Marciniak and VAR did not intervene because the ball would have been played, but our replay here shows otherwise.

NAP-MIL | 43′ GOAL AC MILAN

Napoli is stronger, but Milan takes the lead just before halftime, just like last week.

The excellent cross comes from Leão who advances from his own half and lays the ball ready for Giroud, who does take advantage of this third huge opportunity.

Napoli-AC Milan 0-1 (0-1)

NAP-MIL | 35′ Giroud chance, injuries at Napoli

Napoli remained the stronger team, but escaped on a second great chance (after the penalty) for Giroud. Goalkeeper Meret again saved handsomely on the French striker’s effort from close range.

Bad news for Napoli: Politano is suddenly on the grass groaning in pain. The Italian is injured and is replaced by former PSV player Lozano. And Mário Rui also suffers an injury. His replacement is Olivera.

Napoli-AC Milan 0-0 (0-1)

CHE-RMA | 28′ Chances for Real

Chelsea did their best, but Real Madrid already had two best chances to take the lead. A shot by Rodrygo landed hard on the post and a Vinícius effort was turned away by Chelsea goalie Kepa.

Militão, meanwhile, received the first yellow card of the match and will miss the eventual first semifinal, should Real Madrid indeed make it.

Chelsea-Real Madrid 0-0 (0-2)

NAP-MIL | 22′ Milan misses penalty

Milan were played out of their minds, Napoli had another great shooting chance through Politano, but after a sparse Milan breakaway, the ball is suddenly on the spot and there is silence in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Mario Rui brings down Leão and Milan gets a penalty. Giroud is behind the ball, but Napoli goalkeeper Meret picks up his effort!

Napoli-AC Milan 0-0 (0-1)

CHE-RMA | 12′ Real the ball, Chelsea the chance

Real Madrid has the ball in the early stages, but the first real chance was for Chelsea. From a cross, there is first a shot by Havertz, in the rebound Kanté pops the ball narrowly past Courtois’ goal.

That was a close call. Of course, a Chelsea goal could cause a fuss.

Chelsea-Real Madrid 0-0 (0-2)

NAP-MIL | 7′ Napoli puts pressure

Like last week, Napoli started the match full throttle and bombarded AC Milan’s goal from all sides. Last week there were three goal-ready chances within five minutes, it was not that dangerous tonight.

Napoli-AC Milan 0-0 (0-1)

New general manager for AS Roma

AS Roma has a new general manager. Lina Souloukou joins immediately from Greek club Olympiakos Piraeus, where she has worked since 2018.

Souloukou is the successor at AS Roma to Pietro Berardi, who was fired yesterday. The Italian club, which takes on Feyenoord in the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday, made that decision following an investigation into possible financial irregularities in transfers and the setting of transfer values. Prosecutors seized several documents at AS Roma earlier this month.

“Lina is an experienced, respected and trusted leader in both soccer and business. We are delighted to welcome her to the AS Roma family,” club owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin said in a statement.

Nightly fireworks display in Naples

AC Milan normally travels to Naples on the day of the (league) match, but UEFA requires teams to be present already on the eve of a game. And the players knew it.

From 11:30 to 3 a.m., it was a buzz of activity around Hotel Vesuvio, where Milan spent the night. Speeches, fireworks, the Napoli fans made it a big party. Milan was prepared for it, so the players were housed in rooms at the back of the hotel.

Mud fight between Real and Barcelona knows no bounds

Barcelona president Joan Laporta yesterday took aim at Real Madrid, which has also weighed in, saying, among other things, that the Madrid rival has been the regime’s team for decades.

Real answered that suggestion with a video on social media, combining footage of Laporta’s speech with archival footage intended to show the Franco regime’s connection with Barcelona.

Real coach Ancelotti guards against underestimation

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has warned his players to remain wary against Chelsea. The Spaniards are defending a 2-0 lead against the English club, which has not won the past three duels under interim coach Frank Lampard. According to Ancelotti, the match against Real Madrid is a great opportunity for Chelsea to ensure a turnaround.

“We are aware of this and certainly have to take it into account,” Ancelotti said. “We are in shape and motivated as always. These are important games and we have to be there tomorrow. There are ninety minutes to go and anything can happen. We have to play our best game.”

Last season, despite a 3-1 lead after the first game, Real Madrid also had to go deep to reach the semifinals. Chelsea won the second game 3-2 and made things difficult for Real Madrid. “We certainly don’t think it’s going to be easy. I have a lot of experience in this league and know what can happen in soccer. But we want less hassle than last season,” Ancelotti said.

Pioli wants to read, Spalletti hopes for everlasting happiness

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli and his Napoli colleague Luciano Spalletti looked ahead to the return game in Naples yesterday during press conferences, with Milan defending a 1-0 lead.

According to Pioli – who recently lost 4-0 to Serie A superpower Napoli in the league – it is important to “read” matches against the Neapolitans.

Spalletti said that Napoli, who are in the quarter-finals for the first time, have nothing to lose: “There is no risk tonight. We only run a risk of perpetual happiness. Because we’ve never come this far before. And if we win, we will get even further.”

Chelsea coach Lampard hopes for twelfth man against Real: ‘Atmosphere will be great’

Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s current coach, is not to be envied. He recently took over from Graham Potter and then lost three games in a row. Including the first game in the Champions League quarterfinals against Real Madrid.

“We’re not where we want to be,” observed former Chelsea player. “But I think the word broken is rather exaggerated. Where we are now in the league is the reality and in the Champions League we are 2-0 behind. We have to try to do something about that. I’ve been here many times on a Champions League night. The atmosphere will be great. Hopefully we can take advantage of that.”

Napoli counts on top scorer Osimhen in Italian clash: ‘He has so many options’

Tonight against AC Milan, Napoli must see off the 1-0 defeat of a week ago. That does not look like an impossible task. Only one goal difference after all. In a home game, moreover. But above all: Victor Osimhen is back!

For the Nigerian goalgetter was sorely missed in recent weeks. An upper leg injury cost him almost three entire league matches, in which the sovereign leader in Serie A promptly lost four points. Last Saturday he made his comeback against Hellas Verona a quarter of an hour before time, but his shot against the crossbar did not change the 0-0 scoreboard after the final whistle.

Welcome to the Champions League!

‘Die Meister, Die Besten, The Champions‘, so will the Champions League anthem at 9 p.m. once again resound through stadiums in London and Naples full of bombast.

Two returns in the quarter-finals are scheduled tonight. Chelsea must try to make up a 2-0 deficit at home against defending champion Real Madrid, Napoli lost 1-0 at AC Milan last week and so will have to win tonight as well.

With this liveblog we will keep you updated on all developments throughout the evening.