Champions League – Bayer Leverkusen – Milan 1-0 – Serie A

It was a challenge at hand, but in the standings the Rossoneri are still stuck on zero points with many regrets.
It is not a simple match. Leverkusen keeps the ball, controls the game, and creates more than one opportunity that Maignan succeeds in stopping, but only to a certain extent. Milan is suffering and struggling to contain the home team on the left wing. It is immediately clear that the Rossoneri will have to grit their teeth. Minyan was called upon to block two shots in the third and fourth minutes, first on Boniface, then on Hincapie. In the 21st minute, a German goal was disallowed for offside, which was a relief for the Rossoneri, who were a little out of breath.

After half an hour, the match statistics were harsh and all in Leverkusen’s favor: 60% ball possession, six shots compared to zero for the hosts, and 24 three-pointers. In the 37th minute, another exciting chance for Leverkusen: Wirtz descends to the left with ease, passes a cross into the middle that is carefully blocked by Maignan, and then Frimpong shoots high. To see Milan’s first shot on target you have to wait until the 39th minute as Pulisic’s effort is still very weak. Two minutes later, an episode occurred that sparked discussion: Leao releases Abraham, the Rossoneri striker tries to dribble, but in the penalty area Abraham falls after a clash, the referee leaves it, but the Rossoneri protests.
The second half started like the first, with a great opportunity for Leverkusen. Three minutes later another sensational tackle from Maignan on Wirtz. But in the second half, Milan seemed to have shaken off some fear and tried to break the deadlock with Reynders but the midfielder failed to shoot, two steps from goal. Then in the sixth minute Leverkusen took the lead, Maignan resisted as best he could, saving Frimpong’s shot, but after that Boniface made no mistake. The goal scored rings alarm bells for Milan, who react and build the game in the end. Finally, Hradeki was also called into action and managed to maintain the advantage by opposing Reijnders incredibly well with one hand. Fonseca gives Morata half an hour to play. Milan are doing well, they are more active and often appear in Leverkusen’s half. The center of gravity is higher, the opportunities increase. The most dramatic was Theo Hernandez’s cross, at which point Morata tried to head it in but the ball slid a few centimeters wide of the post. Hradecky once again deprived Milan of the joy of scoring, facing Loftus-Cheek, who protested a foul on the edge of the penalty area in stoppage time. Another suspicious episode raises tension between the Rossoneri. But the referee is convinced, the VAR does not intervene and wastes time amid regret and wasted opportunities.