Rennes-Milan 3-2: painless hat-trick from Bourigeaud, Pioli in the Europa League round of XNUMX

Rennes, 22 February 2024 – For the Milan it is forbidden to lower one's guard, despite the road towards the eighths of final of Europe League both downhill and nothing should be taken for granted, especially after Monza. On the other hand, in this second leg of the play-offs for the round of 16 the Rennes he is called to accomplish the feat against Milan: overcoming the 3-0 at San Siro from a week ago. Stéphan chooses his classic 4-4-2 with Kalimuendo e Terrier in front, the latter having performed excellently in Ligue 1 so far, with attention to Bourigeaud in midfield, while the former Bologna player will act as right back Theater. To the Rohazhon Park Pioli presents himself with a 4-3-3 where, compared to the Serie A match, they return from the first minute Lion e Pulisic on the lanes with Jovic in front, in midfield the trio formed by Musah, Reinders e Bennacer, we see ourselves behind Kjær instead of Thiaw. Bench then for Loftus-Cheek and Giroud. All under the orders of the Portuguese Joao Pinheiro.

First half

Rohazhon Park was very hot in this second leg of the playoffs, demonstrating that the French believe in the comeback. First lunge of the match by Leao who flies into the lane, enters the area and is blocked by Mandanda. The Portuguese, who wants to shake off the post-Monza controversy, tries to get into the game straight away. Rennes immediately push very hard with the two wingers who, in the possession phase, get on the same line as the two attackers. For their part, Milan restarts every time they have the chance, taking advantage of Leao's speed, but at the moment Rennes' rearguard is behaving well despite the many spaces granted. Leao takes the ball away from Omari and flies towards the goal, but Theate makes a perfect diagonal and closes everything, avoiding an almost certain goal. After 8' minutes the pace continues to be very high, with Rennes always pressuring Milan's defence. Rennes goal in the 11th minute, Bourigeaud scores. The French midfielder receives and controls the ball from the edge of the penalty area, at the intersection between the crescent and the line on the right, kicks a cross-court shot with his right that leaves Maignan no chance. A goal that further increases the decibels of Rohazhon Park and, above all, the hopes of Rennes who, in any case, must score at least two more goals to force extra time. What a mistake by Pulisic! At 16' Theo Heranandez from the left puts a nice ball in the middle, a low cross to the spot, which is collected by the American who tries to kick first but misses the timing and doesn't hit the ball which remains there and is then blocked from the defense. Bennacer also shows up who from the right, halfway down the short side of the penalty area, points and jumps a man, enters the area, moves it to the left foot and shoots but is met by Theate. Luka Jovic equalizes! In the middle of the first half, in the 22nd minute, a maneuvered action by Milan with a break by Reijnders who gains ground with the ball at his feet and in the opponent's threequarters opens for Theo on the left who first puts it in for Jovic who heads the score. Very important goal for Milan who are now back three goals ahead in the overall tally (1-4). Free kick for Rennes in the 26th minute just outside the penalty area, from the right elbow, with Bourigeaud on the ball, Omari and Santamaria among the most dangerous, but the midfielder goes towards goal and Maignan responds. Another colossal risk for Milan! Lateral foul after Bourigeaud's free kick, the ball is put in and remains at the disposal of Kalimuendo who first turns with his right and the ball comes towards him Maignan who fusses and manages to corner her in one way or another. Central part of the first half where Rannes continues to be seen in the Maignan area, but Milan defends well and doesn't run any big risks. Pioli's team manages the pace of the match in this half, lowering it and turning the ball more in midfield also to waste time. Milan ends the first half on the front foot Pulisic who crosses into the middle but doesn't find Jovic's head, the ball becomes good for Leao who wisely goes back and turns the ball over. After a minute of added time we go to the locker room with the score at 1-1, so the Rossoneri would qualify with a 4-1 aggregate.

Second half

We start again with the same 22 as in the first half, therefore no changes for either Milan or the French. The initial enthusiasm of Rohazhon Park has now waned, also because the time available to the hosts is less and less and the goals still need to be recovered to force extra time. Leao wastes in the 49th minute: the Portuguese starts in the open field, but kicks with his right foot at Mandanda, Penalty kick for Rennes! Ball from Truffert for Terrier, Kjaer tries to advance on the opponent's attacker who goes down, the Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro takes a few seconds who then blows the whistle. Bourigeaud from the penalty spot he opens the right-footed shot and makes it 2-1 in the 54th minute, Rohazhon Park makes its presence felt again. Two changes for Rennes: Santamaria and Doué out, Matusiwa and Seidou in. In the end Leao scored! The Portuguese is good and lucky as he receives in midfield, points and jumps Seidou, Omari tries to close him but Leao keeps physically, Mandanda comes out on the wing, carom between the three and in the end Leao finds himself on the goal line, without a goalkeeper, with the ball at his feet and goes 2-2 at 58'. Pulisic makes a mistake, receiving a nice ball from Leao after Bennacer's recovery, the American hesitates in front of Mandanda, doesn't shoot immediately and is put back by the defense. He changes three pegs: within Okay, Chukwueze e Loftus Cheek, Bennacer, Leao and Pulisic come out. Possible penalty for Rennes in the 65th minute! Cross looking for Kalimuendo who turns his head, Jovic in an attempt to counter the opponent has his arm wide, the ball hits him and the VAR intervenes. Joao Pinheiro goes to see him again, the referee is called to the monitor. The header was intended for the mirror, Jovic's right arm is wide enough to convince Pinheiro: strictness for il Rennes. Once again Bourigeaud contro maignan. The Frenchman opens the right again, displaces Maignan and scores the hat-trick that makes it 3-2 in the 68th minute. Twenty minutes plus injury time at the end, the aggregate result is 5-3 for Milan. Two more substitutions for Stéphan who sends Blas and Salah onto the field in place of Doué and Terrier, therefore two offensive players out for two others well inclined towards attack. Response from Pioli who covers himself even more by removing Musah in place of Thiaw, therefore 5-man defense for the last ten plus recovery with Loftus-Cheek and Reijnders in front of the defense, Okafor and Chukwueze supporting the full-backs and Jovic the only reference. Theate is an added striker in Rennes who are literally trying everything, but now Milan are all behind the ball. Salah tries to turn with the right, Maignan not very precise sends it to the corner. Gabbia throws it away from the flag, Milan doesn't even start again with two minutes to go. Six minutes of added time, Milan must defend a two-goal lead. It ends here, vince il Rennes 3-2 but it is a painless defeat for the Milan and passes to eighths di Europe League thanks to the aggregate score of 5-3.

scoreboard

Rennes (4-4-2): Mandanda; G. Doué (Seidou, 56'), Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Gouiri (Bertug Yildrim, 84'), Santamaria (Matusiwa, 56'), D. Doué (Blas, 71'); Kalimuendo, Terrier (Salah, 71').

Milan (4-3-3): Maignan; Florenzi (Terracciano, 84'), Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernandez; Musah (Thiaw, 81'), Reijnders, Bennacer (Loftus-Cheek, 62'); Pulisic (Chukwueze, 62'), Jovic, Leao (Okafor, 62').

Networks: Bourigeaud (REN) 11', Jovic (MIL) 22', Bourigeaud (REN) 54', Leao (MIL) 58', Bourigeaud (REN) 68'