Thanks to beauty Rafael Leão, AC Milan once again beat ten men to Slavia Prague

AC Milan has managed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Europa League quite easily. Just like in the first leg in Milan (4-2), coach Stefano Pioli's team played for a long time against a dozen of Slavia Prague, who again had to accept a defeat at home: 1-3. Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Rafael Leão scored for Milan before half-time.

At Milan, Tijjani Reijnders started on the bench. The Dutch international saw Yunus Musah preferred in midfield. Furthermore, Pioli often used his familiar names. Olivier Giroud was supported at his back by Rafael Leão, Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic. Mick van Buren started on the bench at Slavia.

Milan will be scared early on. Right back Tomás Vlcek, who came along, hit the calf of Mike Maignan with his knee, who went to the ground with a face contorted in pain. Reserve goalkeeper Marco Sportiello immediately prepared himself for a substitute appearance, was ready, but was able to sit back down when Maignan was able to continue playing. He showed that he was fine moments later with a feline save on a shot from close range by Mojmír Chytil.

Not long after, Tomás Holes stood hard on Davide Calabria's ankle. Referee Glenn Nyberg was called to the screen by VAR Pol van Boekel and concluded that Holes' action was worth a red card. Calabria could continue, that was not the case for Maignan. The Frenchman ultimately had to be replaced by Sportiello. The Italian saw teammate Pulisic on the other side freely encounter Slavia goalie Jindrich Stanek, who shortly afterwards also prevented Leão from scoring.

Stanek still had to capitulate ten minutes before the half-time signal. Theo Hernández played to Leão, who in turn served Pulisic. The American cut and shot with the left into the short corner: 0-1. There was no longer any tension, given the score over two matches and the red card at Slavia.

In fact, it quickly became 0-2. After a textbook attack, Pulisic laid it wide for Loftus-Cheek, who simply tapped in at the far post. Just before the half-time signal sounded, the score became 0-3 through Leão, who found the net with a fantastic shot in the crossbar.

There was no more tension after the break. Milan could play freely and could have made it 0-4 through Giroud, if the 2018 world champion had not shot just wide from close range. Matej Jurasek scored a goal of honor for Slavia just before the end. The Czech
turned beautifully free and finished beautifully with a bang in the far corner. This gave the home fans some reason to cheer.

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