AC Milan beat Celtic 3-1

Glasgow –

AC Milan managed to silence Celtic FC on the first matchday of Group H of the 2020/21 Europa League with a score of 3-1. Rossoneri goals are shared equally by Rade Krunic, Brahim Diaz and Jans Petter Hauge.

At Celtic Park on Friday (10/23/2020) in the early hours of the WIB, the hosts first threatened through Olivier Ntcham in the 5th minute, but his left leg was still secured by Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

OBJECTIVE! Milan took the lead in the 14th minute. Center Samuel Castillejo was received by Rade Krunic with a header into the left corner of Celtic’s goal without being able to be cleared by his goalkeeper, Vasilios Barkas.

A Krunic header broke into Celtic’s goal. Photo: AFP / RUSSELL CHEYNE

Leading a goal, Milan did not relax the attack. Simon Kjaer had a chance with a header in the 28th minute, but Ntcham still blocked it. Not long ago, Sandro Tonali’s long shot was blocked as well, this time by Scott Brown.

Celtic tries to get out of the pressure. Callum McGregor didn’t want to be left behind by firing a shot from outside the penalty area in the 31st minute, but this time it was Diogo Dalot who stopped him.

OBJECTIVE! Milan doubled the lead in the 42nd minute. Theo Hernández’s action on the left side of the Celtic defense continued to provide a mature pass to Brahim Díaz on the right.

Brahim Diaz’s style after scoring Milan’s second goal. Photo: AFP / RUSSELL CHEYNE

With a good eye, the player on loan from Real Madrid shot with his right leg that successfully made Celtic’s goal sound for the second time. Milan’s 2-0 lasted until the break.

In the second half, Celtic tried to press again from the beginning. Former Milan player Diego Laxalt fired a shot in the 51st minute, but still failed to break Milan’s goal. Five minutes later, it was Ryan Christie’s turn to get a chance, but his shot went off.

Celtic did not stop attacking for goals. Christie again failed to seize opportunities in the 64th minute, after her shot deflected down the right side of Milan’s goal. A minute later, Shane Duffy’s header also went wide.

OBJECTIVE! Celtic finally narrowed the gap in the 76th minute. Christie’s corner kick was successfully finished off by Mohamed Elyounoussi towards the goal, without Donnarumma being able to save him. The score was 1-2, the morale of the Celtic players rose.

Elyounoussi’s header (27, four from the left) opened hope for Celtic. Photo: AFP / RUSSELL CHEYNE

Elyounoussi had another chance in the 82nd minute, but his shot went just wide of the goal. Ntcham also had a chance in injury time, but his long-range shot came off the left side of the goal.

OBJECTIVE! In fact, Milan managed to stay away from Celtic. With time remaining in the second half, Alexis Saelemaekers carefully passed Jens Petter Hauge. This Norwegian player then took the ball into the penalty area and completed it on a goal.

Hauge ensured Milan’s victory with his injury-time goal. Photo: AFP / RUSSELL CHEYNE

Milan closed the match with a 3-1 victory. With this result, Stefano Pioli’s squad is in second place in Group H with three points. They lost on goal difference to Lille, who beat Sparta Prague 4-1.