Junior Messias scored the winner on his Champions League debut to beat Atletico Madrid and keep Milan’s hopes of qualification alive in a desperately tight group.
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The Rossoneri knew only a win could keep the very slim hopes of qualification alive, picking up just one point so far, but missed Fikayo Tomori, Davide Calabria, Ante Rebic, Mike Maignan, Samu Castillejo and Alessandro Plizzari, with Rafael Leao not ready to start. Atleti had Stefan Savic and Antoine Griezmann back from suspension, the latter winning an appeal to reduce his two-match ban.
In the opening minutes, Ciprian Tatarusanu needed a fantastic save on Rodrigo De Paul, but the offside flag was up anyway.
Brahim Diaz drilled wide and Theo Hernandez hit a half-volley not too far off target, while Alexis Saelemaekers and Lemar tested the goalkeepers from distance.
Simon Kjaer nodded over from a free kick, but Milan lost Giroud to a suspected hamstring strain as he was running for the ball.
Milan should’ve taken the lead on 71 minutes when substitutes Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Junior Messias combined, but Tiemoue Bakayoko’s shot was charged down by Stefan Savic.
Bakayoko threatened again with his header over from a free kick, while Jan Oblak made an astonishing save with his forearm on Ibrahimovic.
Moments later, Milan got a deserved goal, Franck Kessie down the left floating in a cross for Junior Messias to leap between the centre-backs for a header on his Champions League debut. The 30-year-old former Crotone player had been delivering washing machines only a few years ago to make ends meet.
Ibrahimovic thought he had another when dinking it over Oblak after a save on Ismael Bennacer, but Savic cleared it off the line.
Moments later, Atleti incredibly failed to equalise, as it was pulled back from the by-line only for Matheus Cunha to somehow fire wide from a couple of yards.
Porto were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool, so the group is incredibly tight behind Jurgen Klopp’s runaway winners. It all goes down to the final round.
Atletico Madrid 0-1 Milan
Messias 87 (M)
So how about away goal rule now comparing to atletico? I not understand what milan need to go through, maybe someone knows better? They have better goal difference, I am almost sure they will beat liverpool at home… And porto will not beat atletico…
We need to beat liverpool and porto has to lose, we are ahead of atletico on goal difference since our h2h is 2-2, but atletico cannot win with a better goal difference then us. Basically I don’t think we’ll make it, but at least we come back from a terrible start.
What a tough group.All 3 teams can still go through.Milan have the hardest task.. They MUST beat Liverpool.That is almost impossible.They must then Hope Porto don’t win vs Atletico. It is very hard to see Milan beating Liverpool.But anything is still possible. Today was good Both Milan clubs beating quality teams in UCL.
They can beat liverpool I am sure, english team can be playing reserve players… Of course its big money for every win here but milan also almost beat them in anfield… I very much believe now in this…
Forza JUVE: On 24 June 2021, UEFA approved the proposal to abolish the away goals rule in all UEFA club competitions from the 2021–22 season. There’s no away goal rule.