Ismael Bennacer scored the only goal of the game as AC Milan got the better of rivals Napoli following their 1-0 victory at the San Siro in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday evening.

Algerian midfielder Bennacer scored the game-winning goal five minutes before halftime at a packed, loud, and wet San Siro. Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao had just done a great job of working together.

The 25-year-second old’s goal of the season gave Milan a win over Italy’s champion-elect Napoli for the second time in less than two weeks and a narrow lead to defend next week at the Stadio Maradona in Naples.

“It will be a great return leg with a lot of tension and emotion,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli to Amazon Prime.

“We performed at a level worthy of the Champions League… we’ll go to Naples with confidence and concentration high, we know how difficult it will be down there.”

Napoli had Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sent off in the 74th minute and won’t have Kim Min-jae for the second leg. Victor Osimhen should be back for the second leg on Tuesday, but without their star striker, Luciano Spalletti’s team didn’t score despite having a lot of chances.

Mike Maignan, the goalie for Milan, made a number of great saves, including one late in the game when he pulled out Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s shot as more than 70,000 home fans were celebrating a win.

But Bennacer’s goal was just enough to give Milan hope for their first Champions League semi-final since they were crowned kings of Europe for the seventh and last time in 2007.

Fans of Milan will be even more excited about this because their likely opponent would be local rivals Inter, who beat Benfica in a big way on Tuesday.

“It’s a defeat, but with the attitude we showed today we’re confident,” said Napoli captain Di Lorenzo to Amazon Prime.

“It’s not easy to come here without a centre-forward but we created chances.”

Photo by EPA/MATTEO BAZZI