Milan vs Crvena Zvezda: Zvezda stuns the hosts with a draw
On Wednesday night, the San Siro played host to a thrilling Champions League encounter between AC Milan and FK Crvena Zvezda, which ended in a surprising 1-1 draw. Both teams came into the match seeking a victory to advance to the next round, but the Serbian side managed to earn a point on the road.
- Milan's early dominance: The home team came out strong, controlling possession and attempting to break down Zvezda's defense. Ante Rebic had a great chance but his header went just wide of the post.
- Zvezda's resilience: Despite Milan's dominance, Zvezda's defense held firm. They worked tirelessly to close down the opposition and forced the Rossoneri to take difficult shots from distance.
- Leao's opener: In the 42nd minute, Rafael Leao broke the deadlock for Milan with a stunning strike. The Portuguese forward received the ball out wide, cut inside, and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
- Zvezda's equalizer: However, the Serbian champions showed great resilience and equalized just after the hour mark. Nemanja Radonjić found himself in space on the left-hand side of the area and curled a delightful finish past Ciprian Tătărușanu.
Milan pushed hard for a winner in the final stages but they were unable to find a breakthrough. Zvezda held on for a famous draw, a result that could prove pivotal in their quest to reach the knockout stages.
: The result is a blow to Milan's hopes of qualifying for the next round, while Zvezda will take great heart from their performance in Italy. The two teams will meet again in the reverse fixture in Belgrade in two weeks' time, where Milan will need to win to keep their Champions League hopes alive.