Leverkusen vs Milan 1-0: Rossoneri Wake Up Too Late

If only Milan didn’t wait to go down before putting together a performance worth of a Champions League game. The Rossoneri lost 0-1 to Bayer Leverkusen despite a desperate final assault as Victor Boniface’s 51-minute strike was enough for Xabi Alonso’s side to take all three points on offer at the BayArena on Tuesday night. 

This is the second loss in a row for Paulo Fonseca’s side in the top continental competition. They played an opposite match than two weeks ago against Liverpool. On that night at the San Siro, they had gained an early opener only to vanish and surrended 1-3 to the Reds. Tonight in Leverkusen, they were nowhere to be seen for the whole first half, but dominated the second part of the game after Boniface drew first blood for the Germans. But it was too late. 

Two early Mike Maignan saves from Victor and Hincapié set the stage for the first half, which saw Leverkusen attack and the Rossoneri defend themselves with composure but struggle to create chances.  

Fonseca breathed a sigh of relief when Jeremie Frimpong was caught offside as he served Boniface a fine cross, which the Nigerian striker slotted home only to see his effort disallowed. Then, Frimpong failed to tap the ball in, sending it above the crossbar, after Maignan had saved again from a Florian Wirtz cross from the left side. 

Milan’s first shot target only came on 39 minutes, it was a Christian Pulisic conclusion that Lukas Hradecky had no trouble to block. Tammy Abraham’s penalty claims were dismissed as the Englishman was pushed down in the box.

Leverkusen dominated the first half, but the Rossoneri gave the impression they could be dangerous on the counter. It was an encouraging sign, but Leverkusen put a damper on their hopes with the only goal of the night a few minutes after the restart.

This time, Boniface made no mistake as he pounced on Maignan’s deflection’s from a Frimpong cross and slotted the ball home at the far post. Xabi Alonso’s side reaped the rewards of their domination and seemed ready to hit again, but Milan and Fonseca suddenly flipped the script on them. 

The goal conceded was a wake up call for the Rossoneri, who created no less than four chances to equalize in the second half. On 56 minutes, Pulisic served Tijani Reijnders with a brilliant pass through in the box, but the Dutchman waited too much time to shot and, when he finally pulled the trigger, saw himself denied by Hradecky.

Youssuf Fofana tried to catch the Finnish goalkeeper by surprise with a long range screamer from outside the box, but saw his effort defused. Hradecky risked a lot a few minutes later as he staggered to control the ball from a back pass. Alvaro Morata, who replaced Tammy Abraham a few minutes earlier, came close to snatch the ball from his feet but was not lucky in the occasion.  

On 82 minutes, Milan had a sensation double chance: Theo Hernandez’s deflected shot hit the crossbar, then Morata had probably the greatest opportunity in the game but headed the ball off target from close range. Hradecky then saved from Ruben Loftus-Cheek as Leverkusen weathered the final storm and preserved their slim lead. 

Milan deserved at least one point, but woke up too late. And now, with two losses out of two games, their chances of making it past the group stage are already at risk. 

MATCH SCORECARD

October 1, 2024 – Champions League 2024/2025 First Round
LEVERKUSEN – MILAN 1-0

SCORERS: 51′ Boniface