Decimated Milan fell to a third consecutive Champions League defeat, but again felt the refereeing wasn’t helpful, as there might’ve been a foul in the build-up to the FC Porto winner.
The Rossoneri had lost both group games so far, albeit in unlucky and at times controversial circumstances, and the injury crisis kept getting worse. Franck Kessie was suspended, Theo Hernandez and Brahim Diaz had COVID-19, with Ante Rebic, Mike Maignan, Junior Messias, Alessandro Florenzi and Alessandro Plizzari out of action. Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his comeback at the weekend and was only fit for the bench. Porto had drawn away to Atletico Madrid and lost 5-1 at home to Liverpool, dropping former Milan transfer target Tecatito Corona.
There was an early scare, as at the fifth minute Luis Diaz’s angled dive from distance thumped the base of the upright.
Medhi Taremi fired wide with the inside of the right boot after Alexis Saelemaekers was harassed into an error, while Olivier Giroud failed to steer his header on target from a Rafael Leao cross.
Simon Kjaer threw himself in the way of another Taremi strike, then the same player turned a free header wide and his curler off the outside of the right boot flashed just past the far bottom post.
Giroud’s header was straight at the goalkeeper, but Taremi drilled inches wide after Fikayo Tomori slipped. The English defender made up for it with a crucial block on Otavio, but Porto eventually did break through when Taremi collided with Ismael Bennacer on the edge of the box, allowing Luis Diaz to smash a daisy-cutter into the far bottom corner. Milan wanted a free kick for the barge on Bennacer, but the referee and VAR considered it to be a fair challenge.
The Rossoneri had Zlatan Ibrahimovic on, but effectively created very few chances.
Porto 1-0 Milan
Luis Diaz 65 (P)
Milan really needed to win this game to stand a chance. I cannot see them getting out the group. 2 more losses against Atletico and Liverpool is a certainty. Italian clubs have become so poor in Europe and do not have the money to compete with the best plain and simple. But against Porto, that should have been a winnable match regardless of the injuries. They will be better prepared next season as the goal was to get back in.
Milan were terrible. They will definitely be last in the UCL group.
They were out of their depth. I guess they will focus on Serie A alone now
The Donnarumma curse is for real.
Do not worry Milan fans. You have 7 CL titles and with a bit more experience you will do bette next year. This group was not realistic for a young and inexperienced Milan to get out of. Liverpool have won the title just 2 years ago and have deeper resources. Atletico have been competing in the CL for a long time, again with more money. What is more concerning is the fact that the Italian clubs have become a joke in Europe. I agree with @tony, and the worst is Juventus as they always embarrass at the highest levels against inferior opposition. Until the Italians learn to modernise their infrastructure which has been decaying since 1990 etc they will become even worse
0 point from 3 matches… Milan, you’re pathetic.