Di Lorenzo ready to take on Leao again while Milan links hover

Giovanni Di Lorenzo is gearing up to face AC Milan once again, and he will battle with Rafael Leao down the right side of the Napoli defence at San Siro tonight.

Calciomercato.com writes how Napoli captain Di Lorenzo is on the front line with coach Walter Mazzarri to try and lead a charge into the top four and rescue what has so far been a disastrous Scudetto defence.

One thing, however, he would like to keep behind him is the two legs in the Champions League quarter-finals against Milan, when the Rossoneri won 2-1 on aggregate and he had a rough time against Rafael Leao.

Top four ambitions could be reinvigorated in the event of a victory away against Milan ,who are 14 points away. The Neapolitans are just four points off Atalanta in fourth, while even fifth place could guarantee passage into the Champions League.

Back to Di Lorenzo, he admitted in an interview with Corriere dello Sport before the start of the season that the game against Milan in the UCL still haunts him.

“I would like to replay the match against Milan , the first leg or the second leg of the Champions League, or rather both,” he said.

“The incidents, the details, even the moment decided it. But it was a disappointment. And I say this with the respect due to an opponent of absolute value.”

In the league Milan won 4-0 against Napoli at the Maradon too, with a brace from an irrepressible Leao, as has rarely been seen in recent months.

Di Lorenzo was the one responsible for marking the Portuguese, a duel he unfortunately lost several times. This evening he will look for revenge.

The report mentions the rumours linking Di Lorenzo with Milan in the event that Antonio Conte becomes head coach, and his agent Mario Giuffredi told Radio Crc a few days ago that nothing can be ruled out.

“In June we will take stock and make our assessments, also taking people’s short memories are taken into account . It is right that we too take note of the situation and make choices,” he said.

Di Lorenzo gears up for another challenge with Leao, while in the future they could potentially share a dressing room.