Victor Boniface of Leverkusen (R) scores the 1-0 opening goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in Leverkusen, Germany, 01 October 2024. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF

Milan were defeated for the second Champions League match in a row, losing 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, despite an end-to-end affair towards the end of the second-half.

Here are the Milan ratings from Tuesday’s entertaining clash between Xabi Alonso and Paulo Fonseca’s sides.

Champions League: Leverkusen 0-0 Milan – Player ratings

Milan

Maignan 7.5 – Almost single-handedly kept Milan in it until Boniface’s opener. He did parry a few efforts back into dangerous areas, but most of the follow-ups did not end up on target. 

Emerson Royal 5 – Not the most composed when Milan were able to venture further forwards in the second half

Gabbia 5.5 – Not quite as assured as some of his recent performances in Rossoneri colours, but a sign of how far he has come on to be given these opportunities in such big games. 

Tomori 5.5 – Neither of the Rossoneri centre-backs were particularly convincing against what was a dangerous and lightning quick Leverkusen attack. Done in by a wonderful flick from Alex Garcia just before Boniface’s goal. 

Theo Hernandez 6 – Jeremie Frimpong was afforded space running off Milan’s flying left-back, and used his speed to get the better of the Frenchman on a few occasions, including for Boniface’s goal. More helpful going forwards than he was at the back. 

Fofana 6 – Milan’s orchestrator at the base of midfield grew into things as the second half progressed, a pair of speculative efforts from distance but then a really nice cross for Morata, who should have done slightly better with his header. 

Loftus-Cheek 6 – Used his physical assets to dominate his duels in the middle of the park, but was not the neatest performance in terms of creativity. 

Pulisic 7 – Capitalised on his recent strong form to register Milan’s first real effort on target and looked keen to get himself a fifth goal in five matches. Bright again in the Rossoneri attack. (Chukwueze 5.5)

Reijnders 6.5 – Might have got his side back into it had he shot first time rather than taking an extra few touches in the area in the second-half. 

Leao 5.5 – A very quiet evening for Fonseca’s star forward, who did not see anywhere near as much of the ball as he would have liked. 

Abraham 6 – Another hearty performance from the former England international, but not quite neat and tidy enough in and around the opposition’s penalty area. (Morata 6) 

Leverkusen 

Hradecky 7.5; Tapsoba 6.5, Tah 6.5, Hincapie 6.5; Frimpong 7, Xhaka 6.5, Garcia 7, Grimaldo 7; Adli 6.5, Wirtz 7; Boniface 7.5.

UCL | Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Milan: Too little, too late from Rossoneri

4 thought on “UCL Player ratings: Leverkusen 1-0 Milan – Maignan kept Rossoneri in it”
  1. Is there any chance milan could skip going to bernabeu in return for 0-3 walkover? damage limitation is required.

  2. I can only imagine a complete and utter mauling in bernabeu in front of the entire world. It would be the worst desecration of the milan shirt yet.

  3. AC Milan and their tifodi should be ashamed at supporting a team either virtually 0 Italians, undermining Donnarumma at the San Siro for petty reasons and wants us uo believe they are tifosi of the Nazionale.

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