Was Naples damaged? Leao’s risky slide prevented the opponent’s chance, referee’s verdict criticised

Napoli faced a tough task in their Champions League quarter-final home rematch. To beat AC Milan, a team against whom they have not shone this season. Despite the initial pressure, however, they must face adversity. Including a controversial penalty missed in their favour.

The first game of the quarter-finals was already very controversial. Napoli were the better side almost all the time at the San Siro, but AC Milan won thanks to one successful break. More than that, however, the referee’s performance was in question.

The referee who refereed the match was eventually punished by UEFA as he will not whistle again in the Champions League this season. The reasons were simple. The harsh sending off of André-Franco Anguissa, some extra yellow cards for Napoli or, on the contrary, not giving cards to Rossoneri players.

The Partenopei had to go into the rematch with a clear objective. To win. The initial pressure suggested that it might not be so unrealistic. Naples started actively. But in the 22nd minute, the Rossoneri had a penalty, which was not converted by Olivier Giroud.

However, the penalty should have been replayed as the Napoli players were in the penalty area before Giroud touched the ball. But that was not the end of the controversy.

A little later, however, Napoli could have had a penalty when Rafael Leao’s risky slide in his own hex prevented Hirving Lozano from shooting.

The head referee was instructed by the video referee to continue the game and not to award the penalty, but there is no general consensus among the experts or the fans. However, the replay shows that Leao first touched Lozano’s foot before playing the ball.

Then in the 43rd minute, it was Leao who soloed across half the pitch to set up the goal for the aforementioned Giroud, sending AC Milan into a 1-0 lead in the match and 2-0 overall in the entire double-header.

Source: Twitter, UEFA