AC Milan have secured passage into the Europa League last 16, despite 5-3 on aggregate after losing 3-2 away to Stade Rennais.
Milan had secured a comfortable 3-0 win last week. Goals from Luka Jovic and Rafael Leao and the first-leg win proved enough for Rossoneri to progress.
After a 3-0 first-leg result, the Rossoneri came into the tie on the back of Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Monza in the Serie A.
Stefano Pioli rested Ruben Loftus-Cheek, giving Tijjani Reijnders a more advanced role, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic returning to the starting lineup.
Milan got the first real chance through Rafael Leao’s angled drive that was parried by Steve Mandanda’s legs after 90 seconds. Former Bologna defender Arthur Theate prevented the Portuguese from scoring with a decisive tackle on him.
Rennes, however, took the lead against the run of play as Ismael Bennacer fumbled a promising counter-attack with a heavy touch, which led to the turnaround that allowed Benjamin Bourigeaud to thump a daisy-cutter into the far bottom corner from outside the box.
Christian Pulisic was given a golden opportunity to equalize but wasted it due to a heavy touch inside the box.
Milan eventually restored parity when Reijnders spread the ball down the left for Theo Hernandez to cross for the first time onto the head of Luka Jovic, and the It Serbian got his 11th goal in just 15 Europa League games.
Mike Maignan was called into action, making a desperate reaction save on Arnaud Kalimuendo’s volley into the ground from close range.
Rennes continued the search for another lead as Simon Kjaer made a decisive block on a Gouiri curler, and Theate nodded a free kick wide.
Leao could have given Milan the lead but wasted another promising counter-attack on the stroke of half-time, as Warmed Omari did not fall for the step-overs.
The Portuguese forward was wasteful as he failed to finish a great attacking move straight after the restart, firing at on-rushing Mandanda.
The referee would later point to the spot for a very soft penalty as Terrier tried to turn Kjaer and backed into the defender. Bourigeaud made no mistake with a shot into the bottom corner despite Maignan going the right way.
With more time for the host to score a third, which would have put the visitors under huge pressure, Leao finally converted one of his many chances to make it 2-2.
The forward began the move with a run from midfield, shrugged off Alidu Seidu, and looked as if veteran Mandanda and Omari had managed to smother. Still, Leao stole the ball from under them to deposit it into an empty net from a tight angle.
Rennes would restore their lead through another penalty. This time, it was via V.A.R., Kalimuendo nodded a Bourigeaud free kick onto Jovic’s arm from point-blank range. Bourigeaud converted again to complete his hat trick.
Maignan kept Milan in the game as he fingertipped an Ibrahim Salah curler wide to prevent an even more nervous finale.
Milan had secured a comfortable 3-0 win last week. Goals from Luka Jovic and Rafael Leao and the first-leg win proved enough for Rossoneri to progress.
After a 3-0 first-leg result, the Rossoneri came into the tie on the back of Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Monza in the Serie A.
Stefano Pioli rested Ruben Loftus-Cheek, giving Tijjani Reijnders a more advanced role, with Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic returning to the starting lineup.
Milan got the first real chance through Rafael Leao’s angled drive that was parried by Steve Mandanda’s legs after 90 seconds. Former Bologna defender Arthur Theate prevented the Portuguese from scoring with a decisive tackle on him.
Rennes, however, took the lead against the run of play as Ismael Bennacer fumbled a promising counter-attack with a heavy touch, which led to the turnaround that allowed Benjamin Bourigeaud to thump a daisy-cutter into the far bottom corner from outside the box.
Christian Pulisic was given a golden opportunity to equalize but wasted it due to a heavy touch inside the box.
Milan eventually restored parity when Reijnders spread the ball down the left for Theo Hernandez to cross for the first time onto the head of Luka Jovic, and the It Serbian got his 11th goal in just 15 Europa League games.
Mike Maignan was called into action, making a desperate reaction save on Arnaud Kalimuendo’s volley into the ground from close range.
Rennes continued the search for another lead as Simon Kjaer made a decisive block on a Gouiri curler, and Theate nodded a free kick wide.
Leao could have given Milan the lead but wasted another promising counter-attack on the stroke of half-time, as Warmed Omari did not fall for the step-overs.
The Portuguese forward was wasteful as he failed to finish a great attacking move straight after the restart, firing at on-rushing Mandanda.
The referee would later point to the spot for a very soft penalty as Terrier tried to turn Kjaer and backed into the defender. Bourigeaud made no mistake with a shot into the bottom corner despite Maignan going the right way.
With more time for the host to score a third, which would have put the visitors under huge pressure, Leao finally converted one of his many chances to make it 2-2.
The forward began the move with a run from midfield, shrugged off Alidu Seidu, and looked as if veteran Mandanda and Omari had managed to smother. Still, Leao stole the ball from under them to deposit it into an empty net from a tight angle.
Rennes would restore their lead through another penalty. This time, it was via V.A.R., Kalimuendo nodded a Bourigeaud free kick onto Jovic’s arm from point-blank range. Bourigeaud converted again to complete his hat trick.
Maignan kept Milan in the game as he fingertipped an Ibrahim Salah curler wide to prevent an even more nervous finale.
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