The Italian team was unable to gain any strength at home and shared points with the Magpies in Group F, who shared the points with Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.
This Tuesday, Milan make their first appearance in the Champions League, defeating Newcastle (0-0) They showed dominance but not effectiveness and it was after a game where they certainly felt they deserved more, especially in the first half when they had a number of clear chances to break the tie. .
The English team survived with just one shot on target in stoppage time, returning to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Eddie Howe’s men were lost in no-man’s land at the start, but were far outclassed by Lombard’s team. He didn’t know how to capitalize on the carousel of clear chances in the first 45 minutes. They were a radically different version of the one they gave in the humiliating victory against Inter in the same scenario.
This time Milan was different. Stefano Pioli’s team are aggressive and harmful, and they were last year as well, but they only showed those traits in the Champions League.
Up to five Rossoneri players had the chance to score the first goal. Two headers from Chukwueze, another from Theo Hernandez, a right-footed shot from Olivier Giroud inside the area and Krunic from the edge of the area could have done it. Nick Pope got in a good position and destroyed everything to keep the score tied. .
However, there was one scene that was particularly painful to watch for Milan fans. Because Rafael Leao, who did not start the game well, did not want to miss the party of chances and created them himself. The Portuguese winger is the type of player who is most off-balance and unable to stop rival defenses when he is about to be taken out of the game.
He did it against England in a “Maladonian” play, another one in which he described avoiding a tackle as he entered the area. We did everything we could to comfortably shoot inside the area, while the fans watched with bated breath. He tried to show off with his heel, but it ended up being a shot into the air, allowing the Englishman to stay in the match. .
Rafael Leao is toying with investors’ emotions ????????pic.twitter.com/JkBlVdrvyQ
— Abochie????????????♂️ (@_abochie) September 19, 2023
Already in the second half, Newcastle jumped onto the San Siro green more compact, more complete and more solid. After a quick start to the game, Milan lowered their intensity and leveled the score, but they gradually gained more possession, until Lijnders tamed a shot from the edge and found it in the hands of Pope. A frightening approach was born that felt like going back.
But that wasn’t enough. Milan were excellent and showed a good version but were guilty of ineffectiveness and conceded at home in a perfect San Siro to Newcastle upon the England team’s return to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Source: Biobiochile
