UEL | Milan 0-1 Roma: Mancini strikes at San Siro

Gianluca Mancini has given Roma the massive first leg lead in the Europa League quarter-final, as Milan were twice denied by the frame of the goal.

When these sides met in Serie A back in January, Jose Mourinho was still on the Giallorossi bench in a 3-1 defeat, but Daniele De Rossi transformed their fortunes. Fikayo Tomori and Evan Ndicka were suspended, with Dean Huijsen ineligible, Sardar Azmoun, Pierre Kalulu and Tommaso Pobega injured, so Chris Smalling got a rare start.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

The Rossoneri were unbeaten against Roma since October 2019, managing six wins and three draws, without a home defeat since October 2017.

Stephan El Shaarawy was unusually on the right flank and Lorenzo Pellegrini wide left, surprising the hosts.

Tijjani Reijnders tested Mile Svilar with a low angled drive and Mike Maignan flew to fingertip a deflected El Shaarawy effort over the crossbar.

Milan were angry as they felt Romelu Lukaku was offside in the build-up, but from that corner Roma took the lead with Gianluca Mancini allowed a relatively free header from six yards. It came just days after he scored a similar winner against Lazio in the Derby della Capitale.

Gianluca Mancini has 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 the San Siro with Roma taking the early lead 🤫#UEL pic.twitter.com/P3SzWFEWAG

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2024

Milan thought they had equalised four minutes later on their own corner, but Lukaku was decisive with a double goal-line clearance on the Olivier Giroud headers.

Lukaku sliding in just failed to connect with the low El Shaarawy ball rolled into the six-yard box, while Bryan Cristante’s yellow card means he will be suspended for the second leg.

Reijnders tested Svilar again from distance, while Lorenzo Pellegrini and Cristante drilled wide from a tricky angle.

Milan struggled to create chances, with Leao particularly quiet, as Theo Hernandez nodded off target from a corner and Reijnders again had a go from distance.

The biggest Rossoneri opportunity was from Yacine Adli, whose cross-shot surprised Svilar, fingertipping it onto the underside of the crossbar at the 75^th minute.

Rafael Leao was jeered off the pitch when substituted at the 78^th minute and Samuel Chukwueze blasted over.

Milan really should’ve equalised on 87 minutes when Chukwueze went on a slalom through defenders and laid it off for Giroud, only for the striker to thump the crossbar from close range with his weaker foot.

"How has the top scorer not levelled it?!"

Giroud fails to secure AC Milan's equaliser from four yards out 😱#UEL pic.twitter.com/9wMmDNd40q

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2024

Milan 0-1 Roma

Mancini 17 (R)