Nightmare at San Siro: AC Milan Crash Out of Champions League
After their 1-0 defeat in Rotterdam last week, AC Milan had the daunting task of overcoming Feyenoord at home on Tuesday to reach the round of 16 of the Champions League. However, their dreams were dashed as they collapsed and conceded a 1-1 draw, falling short of their goal.
Despite scoring in the opening minute through Santiago Gimenez, a player acquired from Feyenoord this winter, the Rossoneri crumbled and surrendered their advantage. Julian Carranza struck an equalizing header for the Dutch side in the 73rd minute, who were further buoyed by Theo Hernandez’s second yellow card for simulation at the start of the second half.
As a result, Feyenoord Rotterdam has advanced to the Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 1994 and will face Arsenal or Inter Milan in the next round. For AC Milan, manager Sergio Conceiçao, and French international Théo Hernandez, the coming days are likely to be fraught with tension and uncertainty in Lombardy.
Six days after their defeat in the first leg of the playoffs in the Netherlands (1-0), Milan made an ideal start to the return leg by scoring after less than a minute of play. Against his former teammates, whom he left in January, Rossoneri’s Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez headed the two teams level.
The dominant Lombardy club squandered several opportunities to take the lead, with João Félix sending a shot over the bar in the 17th minute, and the Portuguese player, on loan from Chelsea, being denied by the Rotterdam club’s goalkeeper before Théo Hernandez watched his shot strike the Dutch goalpost (23rd minute).
Unable to score, Milan’s French international received a warning for a foul on Jakub Moder at the end of the first half (44th minute). Upon returning from the dressing rooms, the French full-back, still on edge, was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for simulation after attempting to earn a penalty (51st minute).
Reduced to ten men, Milan surrendered control of the ball to Feyenoord, who logically equalized through Julian Carranza, who headed past Mike Maignan at close range (73rd minute). Despite the introduction of Tammy Abraham and Samuel Chukwueze late in the game, Sergio Conceiçao’s team was unable to regain the upper hand.
"We were the only team on the pitch for a long time, but the referee’s decision changed the match," lamented former Manchester City captain Kyle Walker, one of the five signings made during the winter transfer window.
Two years after reaching the Champions League semi-finals, Milan, a seven-time winner of the competition, has been eliminated before the round of 16, and their 2024-25 season has been disastrous. Despite winning the Italian Super Cup in early January, the Lombardy club, which replaced Paulo Fonseca as manager in late December, has dropped to seventh place in the league, 15 points behind leaders Napoli.
"We are disappointed; we are angry. We lacked maturity; when you lead 1-0, you don’t stop playing. We must react in the league and bounce back," said Zlatan Ibrahimović, special advisor to Milan’s president and owner.
