Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham allowed Milan a third consecutive Champions League victory, despite some comical defending against Slovan Bratislava.
The Rossoneri were feeling the pressure after a 3-1 win away to Real Madrid and disappointing Serie A results added to the general sense of inconsistency. Alvaro Morata was suspended, with Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi injured, plus Luka Jovic ineligible, so Abraham started with Rafael Leao rested. Davide Calabria and Pulisic returned to the starting XI after injury. Slovan Bratislava had lost all four Champions League games, scoring two goals and conceding 15, with Marko Tolic, Lukas Pauschek and Sharani Zuberu not fully fit, but ex-Milan veteran Juraj Kucka was back after knee surgery in September.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
It was a bright start from Samuel Chukwueze, who curled just wide, then went down too easily running into a defender, but the Rossoneri’s dominance didn’t prevent them nearly going behind on 15 minutes when David Strelec sprung the offside trap and got around Mike Maignan, denied only by a desperate Strahinja Pavlovic goal-line clearance.
Pulisic stung the goalkeeper’s gloves at the near post, but the American opened the scoring when he completed a rapid give and go with Abraham to sprint towards goal, placing the angled drive beyond Dominik Takac into the far bottom corner.
Pulisic opens the scoring for Milan!
A lovely run and finish after Abraham plays him through 🤝
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024
However, it lasted only a couple of minutes before Slovan Bratislava made good on the threat of that earlier opportunity. It was identical, another simple counter from a Milan attack, this time Tigran Barseghyan sprinting away undisturbed to beat Maignan one-on-one with a dinked finish.
Slovan Bratislava level on the counter!
It’s been end-to-end action in the opening 25 minutes in Slovakia 😮💨
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/DZfYAyxU2a
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024
The Rossoneri defence was caught out again until Fikayo Tomori blocked the roll across, while Tijjani Reijnders drilled wide from the edge of the area.
Rafael Leao came on for the second half and Chukwueze had penalty appeals rejected when squirming between two defenders.
The Portuguese star made an impact, because he ran onto the Youssouf Fofana through ball to surprise the defence and already had a smile on his face even before flicking the delicate finish over the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Rafael Leão with a deft clip over Dominik Takac 🧊
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ohIcFofBY5
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024
Moments later, Slovan shot themselves in the foot with a huge error, as Strelec did not realise his back-pass was straight at Abraham, the English striker gladly accepting the gift to add a third goal.
Tammy Abraham finishes an absolute gift 🎁
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/rQICYOkI0C
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024
There was controversy when Rafael Leao and Emerson Royal both went down under what looked like fouls, but the referee waved play on, Slovan countered and Nino Marcelli hit a ferocious long-range strike into the top corner, bending back Maignan’s glove.
WHAT A STRIKE ☄
Nino Marcelli cracks one past Mike Maignan from outside the box!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/HiYNXfJTpc
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024
Moments later the referee was involved again, showing two yellow cards in quick succession to Marko Tolic for dissent.
Slovan Bratislava 2-3 Milan
Pulisic 21 (M), Barseghyan 24 (S), Leao 68 (M), Abraham 71 (M), Marcelli 88 (S)
Sent off: Tolic 91 (S)
Player statistic
| 21' |  |
Christian Pulisic (Assist: Tammy Abraham) | ||
| Tigran Barseghyan (Assist: Kyriakos Savvidis) |
|
24' |
| 54' |  |
Samuel Chukwueze | ||
| 58' | |
Davide Calabria | ||
| 68' | |
Rafael Leão (Assist: Youssouf Fofana) | ||
| 71' | |
Tammy Abraham | ||
| 79' | |
Fikayo Tomori | ||
| Nino Marcelli (Assist: Tigran Barseghyan) |
|
88' | ||
| Marko Tolic | |
90' | ||
| Marko Tolic |  |
90' | ||
| Kenan Bajric | |
90+6' |
Match statistic
Any opponent other than the one bottom of the pile, and Milan would’ve been lucky to escape with a point. Horrific performance.