ROSSONERI DEFEATED IN UCL OPENER
Champions League
The Rossoneri's first game in the 2024/25 Champions League ended in defeat at home to Liverpool. It ended 3-1 to the Reds, who overturned Pulisic's early opener. Christian's goal was just reward for the way we started the game but the Rossoneri dropped off, and Liverpool found an equaliser through Konaté before Van Dijk handed them the lead, both heading home from set pieces. Salah then hit the bar twice, which totally changed the energy of the game and the guests grew into it. Our team did react after Slot's men scored their second but it wasn't enough to overcome the Reds' limitless confidence. At the start of the second half, Maignan was forced off; he had got hurt in the first half and then came off after colliding with Tomori.
In his place came 2005-born Torriani, who made his first start in competitive men's football. It was a huge test for Lorenzo but he backed up his good displays in pre-season in the USA. In the second half, Liverpool stuck just as the Rossoneri were upping the ante in search of an equaliser. The Reds' third made life even more difficult. However, the Diavolo kept at it and Abraham and Okafor gave much impetus off the bench. There were chances, such as Theo's effort that went just wide and Leão's shot, which hit the post, in the final minutes. However, the chances were in vain and the game ended 3-1. This result means an immediate reaction is needed in Sunday's derby against Inter at San Siro.
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MATCH REPORT
The Rossoneri started well with a chance coming right away after two minutes with a dangerous run from Reijnders, unfortunately offside. However, the next move brought us the opener: Morata opened up perfectly for Pulisic who unleashed a powerful and precise shot across the box to beat Alisson and make it 1-0 to AC Milan in the 3rd minute. After a good Rossoneri preface, the story turned to Liverpool who upped their pace and almost went level through Salah in the 17th minute, hitting the crossbar above Maignan. Following a free-kick, the Liverpool leveller arrived in the 23rd minute through Konaté, heading home past Maignan. Three minutes went by and Liverpool, with an explosive restart, went close to taking the lead through Jota. The guests came again, trying to take advantage of our struggles: Salah hit the crossbar in the 29th minute after Maignan made a save on Gakpo. The Reds were dangerous on the counter and Salah caused Maignan some trouble, forcing him into a low save in the 40th minute. On the following corner, Van Dijk got higher than the rest to secure the lead: 2-1 Liverpool. After a central run from Rafa, closed down by Konaté, Maignan went to ground once again to stop a shot from Gakpo.
At the start of the second half, Mike was forced off following a clash with Tomori and Torriani took to the pitch. The Rossoneri pressure increased around the 60-minute mark as Morata went down in the box but referee Eskås saw no problem. Torriani did well in the 64th minute on a Szoboszlai chance before Tsimikas had a shot that went just wide. The link-up play down the left found more freedom than in the first half and in the 66th minute, a ball from Theo took a touch from Morata but didn’t quite go anywhere. And this time, Liverpool struck on the restart: mistake from Pavlović who let Gakpo get away, doing well to assist Szoboszlai who volleyed home for the 3-1. Emerson Royal and Abraham came on, trying to punish Alisson for an error right away, but not finding a man to hit home. Rafa had his first real impact in the 73rd minute as Gravenberch pressured him into the corner as he went to cross: then, Reijnders tried a shot from distance but was lacking precision. Our final moments went well: we had two chances in the 85th minute as Theo picked up Reijnders’ shot on the rebound and sent it just wide. Newly arrived Gabbia went close with his head in the 88th minute. The final move came in the 96th minute as Leão went out on his own, unleashing a powerful shot that hit the post.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 1-3 LIVERPOOL
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan (51' Torriani); Calabria (69' E. Royal), Tomori (84' Gabbia), Pavlović, Hernández; Loftus-Cheek (69' Abraham), Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata (84' Okafor), Leão. Subs: Nava; Bartesaghi, Terracciano; Musah, Zeroli; Chukwueze. Coach: Fonseca.
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (79' Gomez), Van Dijk, Konaté, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister (90'+3 Endo); Salah (90'+3 Chiesa), Szoboszlai, Gakpo (68' Díaz); Jota (68' Núñez). Subs: Jaroš, Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Robertson; Jones, Morton. Coach: Slot.
Referee: Espen Eskås (NOR).
Goals: 3' Pulisic (M), 23' Konaté (L), 41' Van Dijk (L), 67' Szoboszlai (L)
Booked: 22' Calabria (M), 31' Fofana (M), 53' Mac Allister (L), 60' Fonseca (M), 80' Konaté (L)
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