AC Milan’s Champions League journey ended dramatically at San Siro.
After overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit within just 36 seconds—thanks to Santiago Gimenez’s lightning-fast goal—the Italian giants saw their hopes vanish. In the second leg, a crucial moment came when full-back Theo Hernandez received a second yellow card in the 51st minute. Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, substitute Julian Carranza headed in the decisive goal in the 73rd minute to secure a 2-1 aggregate win for Feyenoord. The draw for the last-16, set for Friday, will reveal whether Feyenoord faces Inter Milan or Arsenal next month.
Milan manager Sergio Conceicao took full responsibility for the defeat, admitting that the team’s mental sharpness faltered despite individual efforts from players like Hernandez. Early in the match, Christian Pulisic’s cross led to Malick Thiaw nodding the ball into the danger zone for Gimenez’s opener. Although Milan pressed hard—with close attempts from Tijjani Reijnders and Joao Felix, and even a powerful strike from Hernandez hitting the upright—the turning point was the red card incident that shifted the momentum. The victory marked Feyenoord’s return to the Champions League last 16 for the first time since 1974, though they now face the setback of missing key player Givairo Read due to a red card for violent conduct after the match.
Milan Struggles Continue with Upset
Once revered as a European powerhouse, AC Milan have reached the Champions League last 16 only once since the 2013-14 season. Under Stefano Pioli, Milan advanced to the 2022-23 semi-finals and secured their first Serie A title in 11 years, but those heights have proved elusive since his departure. Now led by former Porto boss Sergio Conceicao—who took over after Paulo Fonseca’s dismissal in December—the Rossoneri have seen mixed fortunes.
Despite a promising start that included an Italian Super Cup win over Inter Milan, Milan now languish near the European qualification spots in Serie A. Sitting just one point behind sixth-placed Fiorentina (the holders of the Conference League play-off spot) and five points adrift of fourth-placed Juventus for a Champions League berth, the recent Champions League exit only adds to the mounting pressure on Conceicao. The club’s inability to consistently perform on the big stage underscores the challenges they face in reclaiming their former glory.
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