Giroud was forgiven for a missed penalty by opening the scoring after a great number from Rafael Leao who reviewed the entire Neapolitan defence (43rd).

And if Mike Maignan finally conceded in extra time on a header from Victor Oismhen (90+3rd), the Rossonero goalkeeper was again decisive by also stopping a penalty from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (82nd).

Milan, the most successful club in the Champions League after Real Madrid (7 crowns against 14), finds the last four for the first time since 2007, date of its last coronation.

The road to the final to Istanbul, where the Rossoneri played and lost a memorable 2005 final to Liverpool, could go through a derby against Inter, if the Nerazzurri qualify against Benfica on Wednesday.

"With this state of mind, we can dream," Giroud told Mediaset.

"Why not imagine lifting the cup," added his captain Davide Calabria.

Pushed by a boiling Diego Maradona stadium, Luciano Spalletti's players nevertheless put the pressure of entry but without worrying Maignan, who easily blocked the too crushed strike of Kvaratskhelia (9th).

As in the first leg, Milan let the storm pass to better sting.

Scudetto as consolation

On one of the first blocks, Leao has already distinguished himself by obtaining a penalty for a foul by Mario Rui. But, in a suddenly almost silent stadium, Alex Meret took Giroud's penalty (22nd). Shortly after, the Neapolitan goalkeeper won another hot duel against the Frenchman (28th).

After half an hour of play, Napoli seemed to be a little caught up by fatigue, after this season at a hundred per hour. Kvaratskhelia struggled to get rid of Davide Calabria's solid marking and Politano and Rui had to retire prematurely, injured (33rd).

On the contrary, Leao has found all his legs since his double on this same ground in the league at the beginning of April (4-0).

Moments after almost causing a penalty with an uncontrolled tackle, the Portuguese car took advantage of a missed control by Tanguy Dembélé to fly away. In a ride worthy of Maradona, the Neapolitan idol, he reviewed three defenders to serve Giroud who, this time, could not miss (43rd).

The Frenchman could exult, already author of a crucial goal for the scudetto rossonero last year on this field.

Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud, great architects of AC Milan's victory against Napoli at the Maradona stadium, April 18, 2023 © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

With its two-goal lead in aggregate, Milan has become ever more compact and defensive. Napoli tried on the right, on the left, but struggled to find spaces and especially the frame, like Kvaratskhelia (58th) or Mathias Olivera on corner (64th).

And when the real opportunity presented itself, with a penalty, Mike Maignan finished disgusting the Georgian.

Luciano Spalletti did not want to overwhelm his winger: "Like others, he arrived a little out of breath. We have seen lately that some players have arrived with a little fatigue (but) he will still bring us his quality for this great goal that awaits us," said the coach.

Napoli will now devote themselves to the announced conquest of the scudetto, a nice consolation prize even if the regrets will be all the greater as Osimhen had ended - but too late - by scoring.

© 2023 AFP