Football

Milan's first Champions League win, Reijnders' double

The Rossoneri played for '50 in 11 against 10 due to Onyedika's expulsion. Fonseca's changes were decisive. A goal by debutant Camarda was cancelled out

by Enrico Bronzo

22 October 2024Aggiornato il 24 ottobre 2024 ore 8:56

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The Milan wins its first match of the season in the Champions league beating Bruges 3-1 at the San Siro, after defeats the Redoneri suffered against Liverpool at home and Bayer Leverkusen away.

Pulisic's goal, Reijnders' double

It was Pulisic's magic in the 37th minute, directly from a corner kick. Gabbia pounced on the ball and, although he did not touch it, disoriented goalkeeper Mignolet, who had no choice but to watch the ball roll into the net.

Champions, Baresi: "Contro Bruges il Milan deve fare punti"

In the 40th minute the expulsion of Bruges' Onyedika for a foul on Reijnders made things easier for the Rossoneri.

For 30' an excellent Bruges

The best man on the pitch in the first half was Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who twice saved with his feet safe shots from Bruges' attackers. The Belgians also hit a crossbar - still trembling - with a shot from distance by Ordonez.

In the second half it was the substitute Sabbe who scored Bruges' momentary equaliser.

Then, Reijnders' 2-1 goal was recorded in the action immediately after the changes made by coach Fonseca, who sent Leao into the shower in the 60th minute for Okafor, who, having come on the pitch with a spring in his step, made a precise assist from the left flank to the penalty spot for the Dutchman, who did not miss.

The assist for the 3-1, again for Reijnders, came from another substitute, Chukwueze, who took the place of Loftus-Cheek, who appeared completely detached from the game.

Camarda's goal cancelled for offside

At 3-1, then, the Rossoneri coach gave the dream of a Champions League debut to Francesco Camarda: it was a historic moment because at 16 years and 226 days he was the youngest debutant in Milan history and the youngest Italian to play in the Champions league. And, three minutes from the end, the Rossoneri talent sealed the dream with a header to the roar of the San Siro, but an offside flag, caught by the Var, shattered the young striker's joy and the fans' indescribable enthusiasm.

Calcio, addio alle partite di Champions in chiaro

With this victory, Milan erased the zero in the European rankings and won their second consecutive victory after the one against Udinese in the league.

The team's bomber remains Pulisic who, this year, is already up to six goals and three assists in ten matches between Champions and Serie A.

The expulsion of Onyedika and the substitution of Leao

Unusual and exciting is the sending off of the Bruges player. This is because the two players who ended up on the ground after a clash, Reijnders and Onyedika, were on the other side of the pitch as they were injured and therefore needed the referee's green light to re-enter the pitch. The referee went to the var monitor to see if and which of the two players had committed an expulsion foul.

Once he has made up his mind, having seen the images on the var monitor, the referee walks 50 metres to the other side of the pitch, Halfway through he draws the red card but the crowd, nor the other players, know for whom. Then, when he waves it under the nose of the Bruges player, the stadium explodes with joy. Danger averted. The Bruges player seems to cry as he slowly crosses the 50 metres in the opposite direction to the referee to go to the changing room.

Joy that Leao did not show when he left the pitch, replaced, in the 60th minute as Milan scored 2-1. At Reijnders goal Leao was under the south curve. He does not greet the fans, his head is straight, he raises his arms to the sky, two teammates high-five him, but he looks quite cool.

Perhaps he is angry at the substitution. He walks slowly, takes off his hair band, does his tail again. He looks like he's on another planet, as if he's wearing headphones that don't let him hear the joy of the Rossoneri people. He hasn't played badly but it is clear that he has no relationship with the fans at the moment. We will never know if Milan's imposing south curve - a black wall with thousands of fans - would have booed him, applauded or been indifferent. The explosion of joy at Reijnders' beautiful goal magically ruled out the verdict.