Milan dominated Newcastle United at San Siro with eight attempts on target to one, but Nick Pope saves and wasteful finishing saw their Champions League group start with a disappointing draw.

The Rossoneri made changes after Saturday’s humiliating 5-1 Derby della Madonnina defeat to Inter, bringing in Samuel Chukwueze, Tommaso Pobega and Fikayo Tomori, with Ismael Bennacer and Pierre Kalulu still out of action. Tonali returned to San Siro just weeks after his €80m transfer, though Joelinton and Joe Willock were injured, the Magpies having lost three of their opening four Premier League games.

Tommaso Pobega’s snapshot was beaten away by Nick Pope, then as the move continued Chukwueze’s header at the back post was also saved before another block on Olivier Giroud.

Rade Krunic saw a scorcher pushed out from under the crossbar, then from the resulting corner Pope made a desperate reaction save on the Theo Hernandez free header.

Giroud only hit the side-netting from four yards on a Theo Hernandez low ball, then Leao wasted a golden opportunity by trying to dribble it into the net, then eventually attempting a back-heel flick that went badly wrong, so Pobega’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Murphy.

It was somehow goalless at half-time, despite Milan’s 15 attacks to two, seven on target to zero. After the restart, Tijjani Reijnders came on and immediately tested Pope after a good solo run, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek went off with a muscular problem.

Sandro Tonali was substituted to a standing ovation from the whole stadium, who then chanted his name.

Rafael Leao got in front of his marker to nod an Alessandro Florenzi cross inches over the bar, then desperate defensive blocks denied Christian Pulisic and Theo Hernandez.

Things went from bad to worse for Milan, who lost goalkeeper Mike Maignan to a muscular issue, replaced by Marco Sportiello.

Leao was jeered as he again was sluggish to react with the ball at his feet, while Giroud blasted straight at Pope.

Newcastle had their first and only shot on target deep into stoppages, Shaun Longstaff’s strike fingertipped over the bar by Sportiello.

Milan 0-0 Newcastle

Player statistic

1st half
Davide Calabria Yellow card 41'    
2nd half
    49' Yellow card Fabian Schär
Yunus Musah Yellow card 82'    
Olivier Giroud Yellow card 83'    
Rade Krunic Yellow card 89'    

Match statistic

53
Possession %
47
25
Total shots
6
8
Shots on target
1
10
Shots off target
3
7
Blocked shots
2
6
Corners
1
4
Offsides
3
16
Fouls
13
MIL
NEW

Starting lineups

16
Goalkeeper
81'
2
Defender
46'
23
Defender
28
Defender
19
Defender
33
Midfielder
8
Midfielder
72'
32
Midfielder
61'
9
Attacker
10
Attacker
21
Attacker
61'
22
Goalkeeper
33
Defender
5
Defender
2
Defender
4
Defender
39
Midfielder
8
Midfielder
72'
36
Midfielder
14
Attacker
90'
10
Attacker
63'
23
Attacker
63'

Substitutes

24
Defender
83
Goalkeeper
15
Attacker
17
Attacker
7
Midfielder
95
42
46'
11
61'
14
Midfielder
61'
80
Midfielder
72'
57
Goalkeeper
81'
20
Midfielder
3
Defender
6
Defender
13
Defender
18
Goalkeeper
21
Defender
67
Midfielder
84
Goalkeeper
9
Attacker
63'
24
Midfielder
63'
32
Midfielder
72'
15
Midfielder
90'
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