Atlético de Madrid beat AC Milan in added time

“AC Milan is back”. The huge black and red banner deployed in San Siro proclaimed the happiness of the tifosi rossoneri to finally find the Champions League. It was indeed seven long years – and a defeat in the round of 16 first leg on February 19, 2014 against … Atlético de Madrid (0-1) – that the seven-time winner of the C1 had no longer hosted at home the most prestigious European competition.

For their reunion with the C1, the Lombard supporters had a stunning evening. Beaten by Liverpool (2-3) at Anfield on Matchday 1 of Group B, Stefano Pioli’s team believed for a long time to hold the victory against the Spanish Champion. Diego Simeone had left Antoine Griezmann and Thomas Lemar on the bench at kick-off.

Asphyxiated by the Lombards, the Spanish formation logically yielded on a cross strike from Rafael Leao served by Brahim Diaz (20th), sparkling. While they controlled the match, the Milanese were reduced to ten, nine minutes later, when Mr. Çakir sent off Franck Kessié, sanctioned with two warnings for gross fouls on Marcos Llorente (15th, 29th).

Although reduced to ten, the Milanese failed to worsen the mark by Leao whose acrobatic kickback crashed on the bar (38th). Little worried in the first period, except on a volley from Luis Suarez brushing the left post of Mike Maignan (45th + 1), the Milanese, who lost Diaz victim of tendonitis in the knee, (57th) suffered in the second half.

Griezmann sounds the revolt

Archbutted in front of their surface against a more offensive team where Simeone had launched Griezmann (61st) and Lemar (64th), the Lombards yielded on a volley from the left of Grizou emerging in front of Alessio Romagnoli to resume a delivery of the head of Renan Lodi (84th) ). And, despite several stops by Maignan (77th, 90th + 1, 90th + 3), they cracked in extra time when the Turkish referee sanctioned a hand from Pierre Kalulu in the fight with Thomas Lemar in the box, which however seemed also touch the ball with your hand.

After three minutes of checking the VAR in the headset, the referee – without going to view the images yourself – confirmed his decision. Luis Suarez shot flush with the center, taking Maignan against the grain (90th + 7).

This success on the wire allows the Spanish Champion to point to 2nd place in group B (4 points), two lengths behind Liverpool, winner in Porto (5-1). AC Milan remains stuck at zero points.

8

AC Milan remains in 8 games without a win against Spanish clubs on the continental scene (6 defeats, 2 draws). The last success of the Rossoneri against a Liga club dates back to the round of 16 first leg of the 2012-2013 Champions League where they dominated FC Barcelona (2-0) before being rolled back (0-4)

.
source site