The day after the painful derby loss against Internazionale, a combative AC Milan drew 0-0 against Newcastle United. The Milanese were the better team but were unable to express their field dominance in goals. It was the first Champions League match in twenty years for Newcastle, but it did not score. Both teams are now logically on one point in Group F, where Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain will play against each other later in the evening.
AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli said the day after the 5-1 defeat in the Derby della Madonna against Internazionale, he worked hard on his starting line-up. The coach made a change in every line of his starting line-up. Tijjani Reijnders was one of the victims, as Tommaso Pobega took over his starting spot. Fikayo Tomori, who was suspended against Inter, also returned to the starting line-up in favor of Simon Kjaer, where Christian Pulisic had to make way for Samuel Chukwueze. Sven Botman was of course in the starting line-up at Newcastle. Sandro Tonali returned on behalf the Magpies back in San Siro for a while and left the field to loud applause after more than an hour of play.
After more than thirty minutes of play, the Milanese had their first big chance of the match. Rafael Leão dribbled his way past a row of Newcastle defenders in an unparalleled way in the box, but then clumsily stumbled after the Portuguese attempted to shoot at goal with a clever backheel. The shot that followed, from Pobega, could easily be cleared off the line. On the hour, Reijnders was brought in after all. The Dutchman looked very eager in his Champions League debut. Three minutes after coming on, he also had an attempt on goal. The midfielder nicely cut away from Fabian Schär, but his shot was prey for goalkeeper Nick Pope. In injury time, Reijnders made another attempt, but the shot flew over.
In the 73rd minute there was perhaps the biggest chance of the match. A delicate cross from Alessandro Florenzi found the head of the freed Leão, who headed the ball hard onto the roof of the net. AC Milan, the better playing team, pushed the accelerator hard in the last fifteen minutes, but was unable to express their field dominance into a goal. This meant that no goals were scored in the match, a final score that Newcastle United will be most satisfied with. What i Rossoneri Another cause for concern is the retirement of Mike Maignan. The French goalkeeper resigned after eighty minutes and had to make way for Marco Sportiello. The Italian closing post made a good turn in the very last minute on a hard effort from Sean Longstaff.