Rafael Leão’s mesmerising solo assist helped to add a 1-1 away draw to AC Milan’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarter-final home leg triumph. It ended Napoli’s best-ever run in Europe’s premier club competition and sealed a third unbeaten game against the Italian champions-elect in just three weeks.

Fans at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona were always going to make life difficult for AC Milan, and the thunderous atmosphere they created saw the pitch shrouded in smoke by kick-off. That wasn’t the only thing that blinded the visitors either, as Napoli came racing out of the blocks, with Matteo Politano twice causing problems by cutting in from the right, although his closest effort was dragged a yard wide. 

However, he and fellow star performer Mário Rui were hauled off injured during the first half, as the tide began to turn towards Stefano Pioli’s side.

The game’s first major moment saw Olivier Giroud take centre stage, with the veteran Frenchman stepping up to the spot after Leão was scythed down in the box, only for Alex Meret to palm away his tame spot-kick. 

Giroud again fluffed his lines from close range moments later, but outstanding work from Leão just before the break made it third time lucky for the Rossoneri. The Portuguese powerhouse galloped forward with majestic elegance and left three players for dead, before laying it on a plate for Giroud to sweep home.

Napoli dangerman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was broadly kept under wraps by Davide Calabria, and the talented Georgian had to dig deep for opportunities after the interval. He unquestionably forced the issue though, twice wriggling into the penalty area and lashing over from close range, before shouldering responsibility for a game-changing moment himself soon afterwards.

Fikayo Tomori’s handball yielded a penalty for the hosts with ten minutes of regular time remaining. However, as he struck low to Mike Maignan’s right, the Rossoneri goalkeeper seemingly hammered the final nail into the Azzurri’s coffin by diverting the ball to safety. 

Yet, there was just enough time remaining for the hosts to set up a nervous finish, thanks to Victor Osimhen’s bullet header, but Milan saw out the job to set up a tie with Benfica or cross-city rivals Inter in their first UCL semi-final since going all the way in 2007.

For their part, Napoli will feel that they could have gone further in this season’s UCL, but manager Luciano Spalletti can now fully concentrate on converting a 14-point lead to end the club’s 33-year wait for a Serie A title. Next up, his side travels to Turin for another stern test against top-six challengers Juventus.