DEFEAT IN LEVERKUSEN
Champions League
It was a tough defeat to take. The Rossoneri lost 1-0 to Leverkusen at the BayArena, though they will regret the raft of chances that went begging, all the while having put in an organised and positive performance. Boniface's goal in the 51st minute sealed it for the hosts, though the goal itself spurred the Rossoneri into reaction as they went on to create a host of opportunities but weren't clinical enough to put any of them away. The biggest chances fell the way of Reijnders, immediately after the Werkself scored, and then Theo, who hit the crossbar before Morata headed wide on the rebound.
After defeat to Liverpool, this is now two straight losses to start this season's Champions League, though we have six more games to turn the situation around. It was a tight game away to the German champions and, late on, it was one-way traffic. AC Milan just lacked a bit of composure in front of goal but there were plenty of good signs regardless. There is bound to be a feeling of regret, which should now become fuel for the Rossoneri's coming league fixture against Fiorentina at the Franchi on Sunday evening, their final game before the second international break of the season.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM BAYER LEVERKUSEN v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
Just like against Liverpool on matchday 1, the Rossoneri made a strong start and threatened after just 40 seconds thanks to some good combination play between Leão and Reijnders, but Tah put a halt to the attack. At the other end, the hosts called Maignan into action twice in quick succession, first through a right-footed effort from Boniface and then through a Hincapié header. Bayer were keeping the ball well and had the ball in the net in the 21st minute through Boniface, but it was ruled out due to Frimpong being in an offside position in the build-up. We responded with two runs from Rafa down the left, but they didn’t create any real danger. Maignan then took centre stage again, foiling Grimaldo (27’) and then Wirtz (38’). On the follow-up to the No.10’s effort, Frimpong fired over. The Rossoneri finished the first half well: Hrádecký was in place to save a right-footed attempt by Pulisic, after which Abraham was thwarted by a combination of Tah and Tapsoba just a few yards out from goal amid appeals for a penalty. AC Milan’s last attack was stopped by Tah, who made a great intervention to put a halt to a counter-attack led by Pulisic.
It was also an open match at the start of the second half, with Maignan saving a shot from Wirtz soon after the restart. After an opportunity that Reijnders and Tammy failed to make the most of, the hosts took the lead: Wirtz produced a back-heel flick to pick out Frimpong, whose right-footed strike was saved by Maignan; on the follow-up, however, Boniface was left with an easy tap-in. AC Milan went on the attack as they sought an equaliser, with Leverkusen increasingly putting men behind the ball. In the 55th minute, Reijnders made space for himself in the area, only to fire straight at Hrádecký. Three minutes later, Fofana shot narrowly off target. Youssouf had another go in the 65th minute, but his effort from a tight angle was kept out by Hrádecký. Fonseca sent on Morata, who had a header saved and almost caught the goalkeeper napping on a poor clearance. The Germans came close through Frimpong on the counter, but the biggest chance in the closing stages fell the way of AC Milan (82’): Theo struck the bar from the edge of the box before Morata headed inches wide on the rebound. The final attempts came from Loftus-Cheek, most notably with a left-footed shot on the 86-minute mark, but Hrádecký once again thwarted the Rossoneri. The scoreline didn’t change, and AC Milan fell to an undeserved defeat.
MATCH DETAILS
BAYER LEVERKUSEN 1-0 AC MILAN
BAYER LEVERKUSEN (3-4-2-1): Hrádecký; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié; Frimpong, Xhaka, García (75' Andrich), Grimaldo (89' Belocian); Adli (82' Palacios), Wirtz (89' Tella); Boniface (75' Terrier). Subs.: Kovár, Lomb; Arthur, Hofmann, Mukiele, Schick. Coach: Xabi Alonso.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; E. Royal, Gabbia, Tomori, Hernández; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic (79' Chukwueze), Loftus-Cheek, Leão; Abraham (62' Morata). Subs.: Nava, Torriani; Calabria, Pavlović, Terracciano, Thiaw; Musah; Okafor. Coach: Fonseca.
Referee: Sandro Schärer (SUI).
Goal: 51' Boniface (B)
Booked: 8' García (B), 42' Fonseca (M), 74' Frimpong (B), 84' Morata (M), 90'+5 Tomori (M)
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