UEFA Champions League: How AC Milan used an adaptable build-up structure and rapid transitions to bypass a wounded Napoli – tactical analysis

If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.

AC Milan, a seven-time UEFA Champions League victor, has made it to the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw with Napoli at Diego Armando Maradona stadium.

Napoli, a dominant team this season and the current leaders of Serie A, were defeated 1-0 by the Rossoneri in the first leg at San Siro.

Maignans brilliance during both games was remarkable and enabled AC Milan to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since the 2006/07 season.

This tactical analysis will illustrate tactics that Stefano Pioli executed to beat Luciano Spalletti and analyse how Milan stopped Napoli completely.

Lineups

Luciano Spalletti, the coach of Napoli, made some changes to his team for the second leg by bringing back his striker Osimhen who was absent in the first leg. Meanwhile, Tanguy Ndombele replaced the dismissed André-Frank Zambo Anguissa in the midfield, and the team was structured in a flexible 4-3-3 shape.

Napoli XI: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Rui; Zielinski, Lobotka, Ndombele; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.

On the other hand, Stefano Pioli retained the same players in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the second leg.

AC Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernandez; Krunic, Tonali; Bennacer, Diaz, Giroud, Leao.

AC Milan looks bright and adaptable

Throughout both matches against Napoli, AC Milan demonstrated their ability to adapt and modify their tactics.

Pioli, who always relies on the 4-2-3-1 structure in possession, started with Bennacer as a number 10 in front of Tonali and Krunic who were the double-pivot. AC Milan attempted to build their play from the back, with a 2-2 static base but used different mechanics to counter Napolis high-pressing 4-4-2 scheme during both games.

The intensity of Nap