Milan leave Zagreb with a dominant 4-0 result over Dinamo, which means they only need a draw against RB Salzburg at home to reach the Champions League last 16.
The Rossoneri knew losing here would mean they were out of the running for the Round of 16, while Dinamo were unbeaten in Zagreb after defeating Chelsea 1-0 and holding RB Salzburg 1-1. Chelsea did Milan a favour today winning 2-1 away to RB Salzburg.
The absentee list remained lengthy, with Fikayo Tomori suspended, Mike Maignan, Sergino Dest, Davide Calabria, Alessandro Florenzi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexis Saelemaekers injured, Brahim Diaz only fit for the bench, Yacine Adli, Malick Thiaw, Aster Vranckx and Tiemoue Bakayoko ineligible.
Simon Kjaer’s volley had beaten the goalkeeper, after nine minutes, but Dino Peric made a decisive block from six yards.
Matteo Gabbia did the same on a Sadegh Moharrami header from Mislav Orsic’s cross, while Ciprian Tatarusanu got his gloves to a Luka Ivanusec strike.
Olivier Giroud’s header was palmed away on Pierre Kalulu’s assist, but the deadlock was finally broken when Sandro Tonali floated a free kick to the back post for the Gabbia diving header. It was only the 23-year-old’s second career goal, the other in Serie C back in September 2018.
De Ketelaere went on the counter after the restart and forced a crucial Peric block, but Rafael Leao doubled Milan’s lead with a run from midfield, riding a weak attempted tackle to finish the move himself.
Giroud’s header was straight at the goalkeeper, but Tonali was brought down by Ljubicic for a penalty after the Rebic back-heel flick, which Giroud blasted into the roof of the net.
Tatarusanu got down quickly to parry an Ivanusec strike at the near bottom corner, while Giroud’s half-volley was acrobatically fingertipped over.
The fourth goal saw Rafael Leao surge down the left and pull back, Giroud missed it and Ljubicic anticipated Rebic, but in the process accidentally bundled it into his own net.
Orsic’s curler grazed the outside of the far post, while Tommaso Pobega saw his goal disallowed, as Divock Origi was offside for the assist. Rade Krunic was then denied by a fingertip save when clear on goal.
Dinamo Zagreb 0-4 Milan
Gabbia 39 (M), Leao 50 (M), Giroud pen 59 (M), Ljubicic og 69 (M)
Weird how Pioli subbed CDK after what was a decent game. Not good for his mental state. The boy obviously has a lot of talent so its only a matter of time before he locks in to the team.
I hope we sell Messias soon though. I rather see rebic and saelemaekers start on the right. Messias is Monza quality at best.
Finally some backbone by Milan in a European game.
@Mathias.
Alexis is out until 2023. De Ketelaere is being eased back in after a lay off too.
CDK was also on a yellow card. Smart not to risk his frustration getting to him and getting a second…