Forward Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Napoli’s Champions League quarter-final first leg tie against AC Milan on Wednesday after failing to overcome a groin injury.
This was confirmed by Napoli’s head coach Luciano Spalleti after naming a squad for the trip to Milan.
“I decided not to play Osimhen because I don’t want him injured for too long,” Spalletti said. “We have another game against Milan next week and I want him fit for that.
“But we have won very important games without Osimhen. We are here because we have won without him in this competition and I am expecting the same, that all my players rely on their teammates’ abilities.
“We can’t go on the pitch and be afraid. We need to take this chance and enjoy the game.
“This is like Christmas Eve. The game, the day before the match, the dinner before the match, it is all there to be enjoyed.”
Osimhen has been in stellar form this season for Napoli, scoring 25 goals in 29 games in all competitions ( including four in five UCL games)
The Nigerian forward has been absent from Napoli’s squad since March 19 when he scored twice against Torino in a 4-0 victory.
The two Italian sides meet for the third time this season, having already faced each other twice in Seria A. Napoli won 2-1 at the San Siro early in the season, but AC Milan ran riots thrashing Spalleti’s team 4-0 ten days ago.
San Siro has been a good hunting ground for Napoli in the past few seasons as they’ve lost only once in their last nine games against Milan. Infact, they have won on each of their last three trips to the historical stadium.
The second leg of this clash of the Calcio Titans will take place in Naples next week, with the aggregate winner progressing to the semis to face either Benfica or Inter Milan.
