AC Milan broke their streak of losses away to English clubs in Europe with a 2-1 victory against Newcastle United in the final Champions League Group F match on Wednesday. It was a mixed night for the Serie A side as they secured their first win against an English club away from home in European competition since 2005, but it was only good enough for third place in the group and a spot in the Europa League.
The seven-time champions came from a goal down to secure the win with Samuel Chukwueze’s late goal just over a minute after he came on as a substitute. Despite this achievement, Milan’s hope of reaching the last 16 was dashed as Paris St Germain’s 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund allowed them to edge through on a better head-to-head record.
Stefano Pioli expressed disappointment at the end of Milan’s run in the Champions League. He believed they deserved more but acknowledged that the group was tough. Pioli also mentioned Milan’s determination to win the Europa League after their exit from the Champions League.
Former Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic equalized for Milan on the hour after Joelinton gave Newcastle the lead in the first half with a strong shot. Pulisic, who is the first American to score for three different teams in the Champions League, expressed mixed emotions about the result. He was pleased with the performance in the second half but acknowledged the disappointment of not reaching the last 16.
Newcastle, owned by Saudi Arabia, made an early impact and took a lead against Milan. However, a relentless season and a significant injury list caught up with them as they dropped off the pace in the second half.
Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe spoke about the lessons learned from their first Champions League appearance in 20 years. He emphasized the value of the squad and the limitation in utilizing the squad they created, which was exposed during the competition.
Howe acknowledged the devastation of missing out on the last 16 but also saw it as an opportunity to use disappointment as motivation and fuel for their performance in the Premier League in the quest to qualify for next year’s Champions League.
Overall, Milan’s victory against Newcastle was bittersweet, while Newcastle learned valuable lessons from their Champions League experience. Only time will tell how their performances in other competitions will be affected by these outcomes.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)
