AC MILAN BEATEN BY CHELSEA

Not our night at Stamford Bridge. The Rossoneri were beaten 3-0 in London following 90 minutes of football, in which the team never really managed to impose themselves as they struggled to deal with Chelsea’s physicality and aggression. Fofana’s opener in the first half was then added to by Aubameyang and James after the break. The Rossoneri spurned a huge chance to level it up just before they break, with Kepa denying De Ketelaere before Krunić missed the follow-up. The hosts completely shut us down in the second half.

Noteworthy was a return to action for Origi, who replaced Giroud with twenty minutes to go; Divocks presence will be vital in this tricky period with so many games and absences all over the park. We’re back on Saturday against Juventus, against whom it will be vital to get back to our best form. Before that, we have a few days at Milanello to rest and recover before a great chance to bounce back.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM CHELSEA v AC MILAN

THE MATCH
AC Milan started off well and were able to impose their game on Chelsea, despite not making any real threat to Kepa's goal. Chelsea were happy to sit back and counter, and after five minutes it was Mount who forced Tătăruşanu into a superb save down to his left. The game was competitive with the first yellow cards being shown, all for the Rossoneri: Krunić and Ballo-Touré ending up in Makkelie's book. After three successive corners, it was Chelsea, though, who took the lead after 24 minutes, with Fofana slotting home after the ball wasn't cleared away in the six-yard box. AC Milan found it difficult to get back into the game as the Blues responded better to going ahead. Mount thought he had doubled the lead but his goal was rightly ruled out for offside; then, Sterling was stopped in his tracks by Kalulu's recovering tackle to keep the scoreline down. In the dying seconds of the half, the Rossoneri's first real chance of the evening came: Rafa caused panic on the left before setting up De Ketelaere, whose shot was superbly kept out by Kepa; the ball fell to Krunić who only needed to tap in but his shot was deflected high over the bar for a corner.

In the second half, the home side came out stronger and took the game away from the Italian champions. After 56 minutes, Aubameyang peeled off his marker, Tomori, to tuck home to make it 2-0, after a perfect cross from James. Five minutes later and it was the same James who received a ball from Sterling to smash home high into the net, giving Tătăruşanu no chance at all, 3-0 Chelsea. For the final half-hour, very little was created and after several changes by both sides, Makkelie blew the final whistle to end the game. The return meeting at San Siro is set for Tuesday 11 October at 21:00 CEST.

MATCH DETAILS

CHELSEA 3-0 AC MILAN

CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Kepa; Fofana (37' Chalobah), Thiago Silva, Koulibaly; James, Kovačić (66' Jorginho), Loftus-Cheek, Chilwell; Mount (74' Havertz), Sterling (74' Broja); Aubameyang (65' Gallagher). Subs: Bettinelli, Mendy; Azpilicueta, Cucurella; Zakaria; Pulisic, Ziyech. Coach: Potter.

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Tătăruşanu; Dest, Kalulu, Tomori, Ballo-Touré; Bennacer (73' Pobega), Tonali; Krunić (65' Gabbia), De Ketelaere (65' Rebić), Leão (72' Díaz); Giroud (73' Origi). Subs.: Jungdal, Mirante; Coubis; Gala. Coach: Pioli.

Referee: Makkelie (NED).
Goals: 24' Fofana (C), 56' Aubameyang (C), 61' James (C)
Booked: 7' Krunić (M), 15' Ballo-Touré (M), 38' Kovačić (C), 42' Tomori (M), 71' Thiago Silva (C)

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