Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo is confident that his team can still put up a good performance against AC Milan in the Champions League quarter-final clash despite the absence of their top scorer, Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian forward has been ruled out of the first leg due to a muscle injury sustained on international duty.
The Italian Serie A leaders suffered a 4-0 defeat against AC Milan last month, and concerns have been raised that they may suffer a similar fate without Osimhen. However, Di Lorenzo believes that the team has the strength in depth to cope without their star striker.
While acknowledging Osimhen’s importance to the team, Di Lorenzo emphasized that Napoli does not depend solely on one player. He expressed confidence in the available players and believes that they can still perform well and secure a favorable result at San Siro.
Napoli will be looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat to AC Milan in the league last month and will be aiming to secure a positive result in the first leg of the quarter-final. The match is set to be a tough encounter, with both teams eager to advance to the semi-finals of the competition.
Osimhen’s absence will undoubtedly be a significant loss for Napoli, as he has been in excellent form in the Champions League this season, scoring four goals in five appearances. However, the team has other quality players who can step up and make an impact in his absence.
The likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens, and Hirving Lozano will be expected to lead the line for Napoli and provide the goalscoring threat in the absence of Osimhen. These players have shown that they are capable of scoring goals at the highest level, and they will be looking to prove their worth in the Champions League quarter-final.
Insigne has been in fantastic form for Napoli this season, scoring 17 goals and providing six assists in all competitions. The Italian forward has been a crucial player for the team and will be looking to make his mark in the Champions League quarter-final.
Mertens and Lozano have also been in good form this season, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Mertens has scored 15 goals and provided ten assists in all competitions, while Lozano has scored nine goals and provided six assists.
Napoli will also be relying on their midfielders to provide the creativity and control in the middle of the park. Fabian Ruiz, Piotr Zielinski, and Tiemoue Bakayoko will be crucial in dictating the tempo of the game and creating chances for the forwards.
Defensively, Napoli will be hoping to keep things tight at the back and avoid conceding early goals. Kalidou Koulibaly and Kostas Manolas will be the key players in the heart of the defense, while Di Lorenzo and Mario Rui will provide the width and attacking threat from the full-back positions.
AC Milan, on the other hand, will be looking to capitalize on Osimhen’s absence and take advantage of their home advantage in the first leg. The Rossoneri have been in excellent form this season, currently sitting in second place in the Serie A table, just three points behind Napoli.
Stefano Pioli’s men will be hoping to build on their recent league victory against Napoli and secure a positive result in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. AC Milan will be relying on their forwards, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rafael Leao, and Ante Rebic to provide the goalscoring threat.
In midfield, Franck Kessie and Sandro Tonali will be expected to control the game and provide the creativity, while Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria
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