Milan 3-2 S Bratislava (November 26, 2024) Match analysis

AC Milan secured their third straight Champions League victory with a 3-2 win at Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday, holding on after the home side attempted a late comeback.

Milan came into the game with a 3-1 win at Real Madrid, while Slovan were beaten 4-1 by Dinamo Zagreb in their last tournament game, but for much of the game the home team looked capable of causing real problems for their visitors to prepare.

The first half ended evenly as Milan’s Christian Pulisic opened the scoring in the 21st minute before a quick counter-attack resulted in Slovan’s Tigran Barseghyan equalizing three minutes later.

Milan struggled to hold off Slovan before substitute Rafael Leão put them back in front in the 68th minute and Tammy Abraham capitalized on a horror back pass from David Strelec to extend the lead three minutes later.

Slovan got an 88th-minute equalizer through Nino Marcelli and Marko Tolic was also sent off late on, but Milan survived the late drama to take nine points.

Slovan is still at the bottom of the table with no points.

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Milan controlled the game in Slovan’s half for the first 15 minutes without creating any real danger, before a quick counterattack from the home side almost gave them the lead.

Barseghyan’s pass sent Strelec towards goal, where he rounded the keeper, but his finish lacked penetration, allowing Strahinja Pavlovic to slide in and parry the shot.

The visitors finally counted their possession when a pass from Abraham on the halfway line released Pulisic and he stormed into the penalty area before firing his low shot into the far corner.

Milan didn’t learn their lesson from Slovan’s earlier counterattack and this time Barseghyan collected the ball in his own half without a single opponent in front of him.

Tijjani Reijnders was the next Milan player but he couldn’t keep up and Barseghyan calmly flicked the ball over the onrushing Maigan.

Milan sent on Leao at the start of the second half and the Portuguese winger put them back in front after Youssouf Fofana hit him with a cross pass in front of his guard and coolly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.

It all seemed over for Slovan when Strelec played a pass back into the box that only reached Abraham, who had the simple task of turning and sending a shot past the helpless goalkeeper.

The game seemed like a contest overall, but Marcelli’s great shot from outside the box suddenly gave Slovan hope, but all they could muster was Tolic getting a double booking for a foul and a dissent, and Milan survived to take them all three points.