Samu Castillejo’s opener was cancelled out by Jonathan Bamba, as Milan picked up a Europa League point away to Lille.
Follow all the action as it happens from this game, Napoli-Rijeka and Cluj-Roma on the LIVEBLOG.
Samu Castillejo’s opener was cancelled out by Jonathan Bamba, as Milan picked up a Europa League point away to Lille.
Follow all the action as it happens from this game, Napoli-Rijeka and Cluj-Roma on the LIVEBLOG.
The Rossoneri lost just one match in all competition since the lockdown in March, 3-0 at home to Lille, so were eager to make up for it and take back the top of the group. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rafael Leao and Alexis Saelemaekers were all injured, so Jens Petter Hauge got his first start. Renato Sanches missed out for the hosts, but Yusuf Yazici scored a hat-trick at San Siro and came close straight away here, curling off target after Sandro Tonali was caught in possession.
Hauge then hesitated and wasted a huge opportunity on the counter with three against one, so by the time he tried to roll across for Ante Rebic, it was intercepted.
After an initial period of Milan possession, Lille began to take control, with Luiz Araujo’s curler fingertipped over and Yazici flashing a shot across the face of goal after skipping past Simon Kjaer.
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s first tough save was on 42 minutes, as Araujo’s powerful effort from the D was palmed round the post.
Milan took the lead within seconds of the restart. Tonali’s through ball from inside his own half sent Rebic running and the Croatian did well to pull it back for Samu Castillejo to fire in from eight yards.
Brahim Diaz came off the bench and almost immediately created another goal, his pass through the defence for Hauge, but the roll across was intercepted.
Instead, Lille got the equaliser, as after a throw-in, Jonathan David knocked it down with his back to goal for Jonathan Bamba to drill in from the D.
At one stage, the average age of the Milan line-up on the pitch was just 22, and as time wore on, both teams seemed relatively content with a point apiece. It means Milan stay second, even though Sparta Prague earned a surprising win over Celtic.
Lille 1-1 Milan
Castillejo 46 (M), Bamba 65 (L)
Lille: Maignan; Pied (Tiago Djalo 79), Fonte, Botman, Mandava; Araujo (Lihadji 75), Xeka (Ikone 63), Andre, Bamba; Yazici (Soumare 63), David
Milan: G Donnarumma; Dalot, Kjaer, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Tonali; Castillejo, Calhanoglu (Brahim Diaz 61), Hauge (Krunic 77); Rebic (Colombo 61)
Ref: Pawson (ENG)