Milan-Red Star 2-1: Leao and Abraham give the Rossoneri their fourth consecutive victory

Milan, 11 December 2024 – A winning tap in Tammy Abraham to87' gives the fourth consecutive victory in the Champions League al Milan, who beats an untamed team 2-1 Crvena Zvezda and continues its pursuit of a place among the top eight in the standings. A success snatched without shining by the Rossoneri who, despite risking something too much when Maksimovic hit the crossbar, in the 17th minute, started better, but then remained without Morata and Loftus-Cheek, who left the pitch due to physical problems after half an hour. Unforeseen events that the men of Fonseca they were able to react with the splendid seal of Leao in the 42nd minute, back to scoring at home in the cup after a year. The disadvantage did not dampen the ambitions of Red Star, who returned from the locker rooms with renewed determination, great personality and in the 67th minute, after having risked capitulating on a sensational opportunity that fell to Abraham in the 53rd minute, found the equaliser thanks to a shot from the edge of the former Torino RadonjicThe temporary equaliser threw the Rossoneri's plans into disarray, as they lost pace and brilliance in the second half of the match, but still managed to resolve the match thanks to Abraham, who made up for his previous mistakes.

The choices of Fonseca and Milojevic

Confirmed the pre-match lineup rumors in the Rossoneri chessboard: Fonseca once again focuses on 4-2-3-1 and in the back four in front of Maignan relaunches from the 1st minute captain Calabria, which forms the department with Gabbia, Thiaw and Theo Hernandez. The midfield dam composed of Reijnders and Fofana is immovable, while in the three-quarter trio there are Leao on the left, Loftus Cheek in the center in place of the injured Pulisic, and Musah proposed on the right. Finally, up front, Morata returns to the starting lineup. Mirror formation for Milojevic's Red Star: Mimovic, Spajic, Djiga, Seol are the four defenders protecting the goalkeeper Gutesa. In front of the defense, then, the tandem formed by Elsnik and the former Milan Krunic. Felicio Milson, Maksimovic, Silas instead act in the three-quarter line to support Ndiaye.

First half

Milan started off with the right attitude and kept control of the game with good possession, but Red Star is the first to try with Spahjic. The first real chance falls to Reijnders' feet, who tries from distance. Even more a tempting opportunity, however, falls to Leao in the 14th minute, who with one of his irresistible sprints finds himself one-on-one with Gutesa, who is forced to make a providential save with his foot to intercept the Portuguese's shot. The guests cash in and in the 17th minute respond decisively and forcefully thanks to Maksimovic who, at the end of a back and forth in the penalty area, unleashes a shot that goes down to the ground it hits the crossbar at Maignan effectively beaten. Things for the Rossoneri risk getting even more complicated around the half hour mark when, due to injury, they are forced to raise the white flag in two different substitution slots: first Loftus-Cheek, replaced by Chukwueze, and then Morata, who leaves the pitch for Abraham. The English striker enters the game in a disruptive manner, coming within a whisker of scoring first with a header from a cross from Reijnders (the ball goes just wide) and then with a free kick that grazes the top corner. But it is precisely when Red Star tries to ease the pressure that the Rossoneri advantage it materializes: the one who signs it is Lion, who in the 42nd minute masterfully tames a throw of almost forty meters from Fofana and shoots with his left foot to the near post leaving Gutea no chance. The lead gives a little more peace of mind to Fonseca's men who close the first 45' on the attack, even coming close to doubling the lead first with a shot from Abraham, served by Leao in the heart of the area, and then with Fofana's header, which ended up high over the crossbar with almost time running out.

Second half

We start again with Ivanic replacing Felicio in a Red Star that starts again in a decidedly enterprising manner and already in the 46th minute tries to reach the equaliser thanks to Mimovic who, after a nice exchange on the right with a teammate, shoots towards Maignan who avoids the goal. The Rossoneri manage to let their opponents vent their anger, who also try with a long-range shot by Ivanic and then react by wasting another chance at 2-0 with Abraham who, in the 54th minute, receives a cross from Calabria and, a few steps from the opponent's goal, shoots with a sure shot but hits Djiga's back. Then, in the 58th minute, the Rossoneri loudly ask for the penalty for an alleged stomp by Elsnik on Musah, but the VAR check does not lead to drastic decisions. At 60' comes the second substitution by Milojevic, who inserts Radonjic in place of Maksimovic. The former Torino player had a great impact on the match and equalised in the 67th minute: it all started from a Musah's lost ball in the three-quarter line, which in fact leads the new arrival to a left-footed shot that Maignan can do nothing about. It's all over again for the Rossoneri who pay for the excessive drop in pace in the second half. In the final stretch of the match, however, Fonseca's men use their nerves to throw themselves forward again, losing a bit of balance and risking paying a very high price when in the 78th minute Ivanic makes a perfect move and gets to a poisonous shot that Maignan still manages to neutralize. Camarda and Emerson Royal and the simultaneous switch to 4-2-4 are the last cards that Fonseca can play with 5 minutes to go and the Brazilian, who had just come on, has a good chance at his feet which is dampened by the closing of the Red Star defence. The Serbians, however, can do nothing in the 87th minute when Abraham puts the ball back into the net after it was sent onto the crossbar by Maignan following the Camarda's header and puts the seal on the Rossoneri's fourth consecutive European victory.

The little table

Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria (from 84' Emerson Royal), Gabbia, Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah, Loftus-Cheek (from 27' Chukwueze), Leao; Morata (from 29' Abraham). All. Fonseca.

Red Star (4-2-3-1): Gutesa; Mimovic (Kanga from 75'), Spajic, Djiga, Seol; Elsnik, Krunic; Felicio (from 45' Ivanic), Milson, Maksimovic (from 60' Radonjic), Silas; Ndiaye (from 85' Duarte). All. Milojevic.

Scorers: Leao (Milan 42'), Radonjic (Stella Rossa 67'), Abraham (Milan 87').

Note - Yellow cards: Krunic, Musah, Theo Hernandez, Tomori (on the bench), Djiga.