Milan, 28 September 2021 – Freezing shower for the Milan by Stefano Pioli who, after the Liverpool knockout, is forced to postpone the appointment with the first points in Champions League: it is indeed Atletico Madrid to go to San Siro with a 2-1 final in the second European seasonal appointment. However, Stefano Pioli’s men have nothing left to blame: the Rossoneri were in fact the protagonists of a sumptuous first half, which began with the advantage of Leao at 20 ‘ and continued with other delicious opportunities to legitimize a real Rossoneri domination in terms of the game. At half an hour, however, the episode that in some ways changed the course of the match: already warned, Kessie has in fact remedied the second yellow, leaving in ten the Rossoneri who in the second half suffered the understandable return of Atletico, able to raise the pressure and intensity, first equalize the accounts with the splendid Griezmann’s turn at 84 ‘ and then to place the paw of the overtaking in the 97th minute with a penalty converted by Suarez, which caused the very strong Rossoneri protests in the post-match for a touch of Lemar’s hand that seems earlier than that of Kalulu.
AC Milan 1-2 Atletico Madrid, relive the live broadcast
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First half
Pioli leaves Kjaer out of the squad for precautionary purposes, focuses on the tried and tested 4-2-3-1 and launches Romagnoli alongside Tomori in the center of the defense. In the median, on the other hand, Bennacer wins the ballot with Tonali and pairs up with Kessie while on the trocar Saelemaekers, Diaz and Leao support the only striker Rebic. In the 3-5-2 of the “Cholo” Simeone, however, the surprise is in attack, where Correa and not Griezmann are paired with Suarez. The Rossoneri have a great personality who immediately try to take control of the game and effectively press the “Colchoneros” attempts to restart. A game that yields several recovered balls, which then lead to insidious actions, such as the one that leads to the first, real opportunity of the match at the 18th: Diaz from midfield starts a through ball with the tachometer that reaches Rebic who, all alone in front of Oblak, is hypnotized and deflects the shot to the bottom. The joy for the goal, however, is only postponed for a few moments; In fact, on the following corner, the Rossoneri 1-0 is born: Diaz from the top of the area serves Leao who starts a diagonal from the right that crosses the area and slips into the corner to the right of Oblak causing the scream of San Siro to explode. An advantage that legitimizes the initial Rossoneri domination and accentuates the difficulties of the defense of Atletico, which appeared on the ropes.
At the best, at half an hour, things get complicated for Milan: already booked at 16th, in fact, Kessie remedies the second yellow for a foul in midfield and is thus expelled leaving the Rossoneri who are furious at Cakir’s decision, considered too exaggerated. Pioli is therefore forced to run for cover and remove Rebic – who was also booked for protests – to flesh out the midfield and insert Tonali. Even with the less man, Milan did not let themselves be intimidated and did not lose vigor, even touching the doubling with a overhead kick by Leao, caught, however, in a slight offside on the free-kick beaten across the board by Maignan, which was printed on the crossbar. Simeone replies to Pioli trying, with the inclusion of Joao Felix in place of Trippier, to make the traction of his Atletico more offensive, which at the end comes close to equal with a nice shot by Suarez from the center of the area, which goes out on the bottom .
The recovery
After the break Simeone shuffles the cards further throwing the former Udinese De Paul and Renan Lodi into the fray to give more boost to the red and white game. Atletico starts well again and immediately throws themselves forward in search of a draw, reaching the potentially dangerous conclusion in the 50th minute with Kondogbia who, however, only catches the outside of the AC Milan goal. Much more dangerous in the 53rd minute was Suarez’s attempt to head, who in the center of the area eluded Calabria’s not flawless marking but did not find the mirror of the goal defended by Maignan. Pioli then decides to insert fresh energies with the entries of Giroud and Ballo-Toure instead of the more than positive Diaz and Leao. The spirits overheat in the 60 ‘for a ration from Kondogbia – later warned – on Tonali, but Milan does not lose their temper and continues to cover the spaces carefully, limiting the offensive potential of the “Colchoneros” who also throw Griezmann into the fray by passing in fact at 4-3-3.
Atletico therefore continues its siege head down even in the final 20 ‘ and try to warm up Maignan’s gloves with Lemar’s long-range shot in the 77th minute. Milan, put in difficulty, try to cover itself further with the latest entries of Gabbia and Florenzi, but just the latter in the 84th minute Lodi is lost who heads for Griezmann who with a quick turn signs the 1-1. The Rossoneri winger tries to make amends for the overturning in front but his diagonal on the fly is so powerful but not precise and goes out on the bottom. Even his whip shot a few moments later from over thirty meters high. Atletico collects and at the beginning of the recovery is reviewed by the parts of Maignan with the lash from the right of Joao Felix, neutralized by the providential intervention of the French goalkeeper, also attentive to the subsequent conclusion of Renan Lodi. Maignan, however, can not do anything about the penalty caused by a controversial touch of the hand by Kalulu (evident the previous one by Lemar) and made at the end by Suarez for the final 1-2. A knockout that leaves so much bitterness in the Rossoneri’s mouth that after Cakir’s triple whistle they unleash their anger and frustration at the Turkish referee.
Match report
Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernández; Bennacer (36 ‘st Florenzi), Kessie; Saelemaekers (36 ‘st Kalulu), Díaz (12’ st Ballo Touré), Leão (12 ‘st Giroud); Rebić (34 ‘for Tonali) (96 Jungdal, 1 Tătărușanu, 46 Gabbia, 27 Maldini). All .: Pioli.
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Trippier (39 ‘st Joao Felix), Felipe, Giménez, Hermoso (1’ st Lodi); Llorente, Koke (16 ‘st Griezmann), Kongodbia (19’st Lemar), Carrasco (1’ st De Paul); Suarez, Correa. (31 Christian, 1 Lecomte; 37 Camus, 24 Vrsaljko, 16 Herrera; 19 Cunha) All .: Simeone.
Arbitro: Cüneyt Çakır (ENG).
Goals: in pt 20 ‘Leao, in st 40’ Grezmann and 52 ‘Suarez (rig) Recovery: 1’ and 6 ‘Corners: 5 to 2 for Atletico Madrid Expelled: 29’ pt Kessie for double yellow card Booked: Kessie for tactical foul and foul play, Rebic, Maignan for protests, Kondogbia, Theo Hernandez, Saelemaekers for foul play Spectators: 35,374.
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