AC Milan narrowly avoided early elimination in Europe. Stefano Pioli’s team struck in the final minute on Wednesday evening to visit Atlético Madrid and took a 0-1 victory away from last place in Group B. That place is now taken by Atlético Madrid, which, like Milan, has four points. Liverpool retained their unbeaten status and were 2-0 too strong at home for FC Porto, who are now second with five points.
Liverpool – FC Porto 2-0
FC Porto knew in advance that with a result at Anfield Road it would do very good business in Group B. The Portuguese, who went down 1-5 at home against Liverpool, managed to defend themselves bravely in the first half against the team of manager Jürgen Klopp and got the first good opportunity of the game, when Otávio had the ball tapping for an empty goal after a wide pass from Luis Díaz. However, the midfielder failed miserably and shot the ball past. After half an hour of play, Sadio Mané thought he would break the spell on a pass from Thiago Alcântara, but the goal by the Senegalese was rejected for offside.
wow how nice?? Thiago takes a falling ball perfectly on the shoe and now gives Liverpool a 1-0 lead ?? What a great goal??#ZiggoSport #UCL #LIVPOR pic.twitter.com/qfOf27rNAp
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) Nov 24, 2021
Porto was also allowed to smell a goal in the second half, albeit because of the fumbling of Alisson Becker. The goalkeeper lingered in his own penalty area and then put the leather in the feet of Otávio, but he failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Not much later, Thiago provided the opening goal in a brilliant way. After a free kick by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the ball came at the feet of the midfielder, who scored from about thirty meters with a great kick into the right corner: 2-0. When Mohamed Salah doubled the score twenty minutes before the end, Porto’s resistance was broken. The Egyptian moved in from the right side of the field and hit the short corner: 2-0.
Atletico Madrid – AC Milan 0-1
AC Milan knew it would be finished in Europe with a defeat to Atlético Madrid. For a long time it also seemed to end there, as the duel in Wanda Metropolitano Stadium caused little spectacle. The first company went without too many things worth mentioning, after which Atlético seemed to take the game in the second company. The biggest chance was for Rodrigo De Paul, who tried it fifteen minutes before the end with a volley. The midfielder’s effort went to the right corner, but was narrowly stopped by Ciprian Tatarusanu. It then remained 0-0 until well into the final phase, until Junior Messias stood up.
The attacker came in after more than an hour, after good preparatory work by Franck Kessié, he was released completely in Atlético’s sixteen and knocked Jan Oblak from close by with a striking header. For a moment, the Milanese even seemed to double the score, when Ismaël Bennacer also fired on the goal two minutes later. However, his attempt was well taken by Oblak. Because of the late goal, everything comes down to the matches that will be played in two weeks for Milan, FC Porto and Atlético Madrid. Atlético will then visit FC Porto and AC Milan will receive a visit from Liverpool at home.