Pierre Kalulu’s cross was deflected into the net after an early Porto strike, as Milan picked up their first Champions League point, but it was another far from vintage performance.

Champions League Liveblog: Milan-Porto and Sheriff-Inter

The Rossoneri had lost all three Champions League games and needed a victory to avoid crashing out already. Brahim Diaz returned after contracting COVID, but Fode Ballo-Toure joined Mike Maignan, Ante Rebic, Alessio Romagnoli, Junior Messias and Alessandro Plizzari on the treatment table. Porto won 1-0 at home, but missed Wendell and Ivan Marcano, losing Matheus Uribe in the warm-up to be replaced by Marko Grujic.

It was a nightmare start for Milan, as Grujic robbed Ismael Bennacer and set up Luis Diaz, who had time to take a touch and beat the on-rushing Ciprian Tatarusanu from eight yards.

Tatarusanu prevented a second goal, getting his fingertips to the Grujic header on a free kick and pushing it past the far post.

The goalkeeper also got his hand to another Grujic header on a corner, while Milan’s first chance was a sudden Olivier Giroud curler out of nowhere that was fingertipped over the bar by Diogo Costa.

Theo Hernandez went on the counter from his own half, but Alexis Saelemaekers then ballooned his finish into the sky from a Rafael Leao pass.

Davide Calabria went off injured at half-time and Evanilson almost doubled Porto’s lead, his header bouncing off the top of the crossbar.

Milan finally got an equaliser when a free kick was deflected into the path of Giroud, he forced a save on the turn and Pierre Kalulu tried to roll across for a tap-in, which came accidentally from Chancel Mbemba.

The goal seemed to wake the Diavolo and their fans up, Tonali firing a free kick over and substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic just unable to reach the Leao pass before the goalkeeper.

Ibrahimovic had the ball in the net on 83 minutes, but Theo Hernandez was already offside when providing the assist.

Theo Hernandez’s slide-rule pass was crucially intercepted by Pepe before Ibrahimovic could pounce.

Milan 1-1 Porto

Luis Diaz 6 (P), Mbemba og 61 (M)

14 thought on “Champions League | Milan 1-1 Porto: A point is not enough”
  1. lol this is the best of serie a. Cannot even defeat the mighty porto over 2 games even at home whilst needing an own goal. Rubentus also face this issue last season.

    Binter will also embarrass the nation. At least they did not do a Roma

  2. Milan is not even close to European level. Embarrassing performance all round.
    But again, we saw Atalanta mess up yesterday as well..Juventus will get exposed somwhere in R of 16 or QF if they get that far. Inter will be out t the QF too probably.
    Serie A itself is rubbish and we won’t see an Italian team win UCL until the league itself is modernised. The clubs keep losing their best players to other leagues and cannot even build their own stadiums for more Money. Milan is the 1st to get out…Atalanta is next,,,,,then sometime next yr it will be Juve and Inter’s turn maybe at Rd of 16 even

  3. So much for the European DNA we keep hearing about. Hard to believe Milan are still in with a slim chance, though they need 2 wins and hand-outs from others.

  4. dangermouse I like it, trying to cover for Juve’s loss last season and Milan‘s limp performance. I thought you said we would have difficulties against the Sheriff ?

    FYI Porto have as many CL as Juve and at least one the second in the 21st Century.

  5. Milan, will learn from this champions league exit. They have a good core of players that I hope they can keep. They were underwhelming in both games against Porto, unlucky against Atletico, and outplayed by a great Liverpool team. The group league table dose not lie and they are the worst team in a strong Group. As for European DNA… . 7 time winners… hard are argue.

  6. So sad to see the Italian clubs in this way. I remember when the premier league teams were the joke of Europe in the 90’s but they changed with lucrative tv rights and modernised their stadiums and brands.
    The truth is Italy has great culture but unwillingness too change and do not have money. The stadiums have been left to rot since Italia 90 and it will only get worse. Milan, Inter and Roma will take another 60 years at this rate just to build a 10 000 seater stadium. Too much red tape and politics involved in their mechanisms.

  7. Milan will use this as an experience for the younger players for next season. However people understimate Porto, both Porto games was harder for Milan then Atletico and Liverpool games. Overall Milan has been unlucky also with the refereeing (Atletico game) and injuries (Mike, Rebic missing, and Diaz, Theo just returning recently) . The 1p is not really reflecting the performance.

  8. Absolutely shameful to hear all this nonsense about Milan not deserve cl this season. They are the best team I. Italy currently, they have proved that with a mediocre squad. Yes they should have played better va Porto in both legs but then again then played brilliant against atlético whrrr we got robbed (that’s just a fact) and also very well against Liverpoo. We have a young squad with more or less no cup football experience give them a year or two. They are currently dominant it the league.

  9. Stupid Inter,

    Learn to read, it can be fun!

    I wrote Good Luck against Sheriff. Never said they Inter would have difficulties against them. Understand the difference?

    Indeed Porto are a good team. Congrats for understanding football. There have been worse teams then them that have gotten results in this competitiom. 2 times European Champion.

  10. Stupid Inter,

    Learn to read, it can be fun!

    I wrote Good Luck against Sheriff. Never said they Inter would have difficulties against them. Understand the difference?

    Indeed Porto are a good team. Congrats for understanding football. There have been worse teams then them that have gotten results in this competitiom. 2 times European Champion.

  11. dangermouse very good. More importantly tell me what midfield is your maestro going to deploy for the ultra defensive approach against the Viola?

    Is Chiesa going to be on the bench and more importantly will Chiellini put a nappy on Bonucci?

    Will Rabiot be played as a left winger again and how many times will Morata be caught offside?

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