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BySusy Campanale
Feb 15, 2024 21:53
Milan have given themselves a strong first leg advantage in the Europa League play-off, beating Rennes 3-0 with a Ruben Loftus-Cheek brace and marvellous Rafael Leao goal.
The second leg is across the Alps on Thursday February 22, the winners going through to reach the Round of 16.
The Rossoneri dropped down from the Champions League into this play-off, but Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Pierre Kalulu, Tommaso Pobega and Samuel Chukwueze were unavailable. The French side were coming off eight consecutive victories in all competition, but missed Fabian Rieder and Enzo Le Fée.
Rafael Leao almost opened the scoring after six minutes when he tore down the left with a chest control and strike that was deflected onto the crossbar by Warmed Omari.
Yunus Musah failed to make the most of a Loftus-Cheek sprint and pull-back from the by-line, while Benjamin Bourigeaud fired a snapshot not far wide from the edge of the area after a quickly-taken free kick.
Milan took the lead when Alessandro Florenzi whipped in a cross from the right and found Loftus-Cheek relatively unmarked for a glancing header from 12 yards. It was his fourth goal in five competitive games.
What a finish that was! 💫
Ruben Loftus-Cheek keeps up his good goalscoring form to give AC Milan the lead! 🤩#UELpic.twitter.com/FrqioT0EIu
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2024
Olivier Giroud and Leao also failed to make the most of promising situations, while Desire Doue tested Mike Maignan on the counter-attack.
Milan doubled their advantage at the dawn of the second half when Steve Mandanda made an extraordinary save on Simon Kjaer’s header from the Theo Hernandez corner, but could do nothing on the Loftus-Cheek diving follow-up from close range.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek gets another! 🤩
That's 6⃣ goals in his last 8⃣ appearances for the Englishman! 🔥#UELpic.twitter.com/EcrfK5qOnm
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2024
Leao had not scored since January 10, but broke that drought in spectacular fashion. His back-heel flick sent Theo Hernandez down the left and he continued to run into the middle to redirect the pass back with the inside of the right boot.
Pure class from Rafael Leao! 🤩
AC Milan are running away with it! 🔥#UELpic.twitter.com/PVhFexVO3X
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2024
It was almost 4-0 moments later, Christian Pulisic completing a give and go with Leao to force a save from Mandanda at the near post.
Malick Thiaw made his comeback three months after a hamstring strain and immediately made an important defensive header to prevent Martin Terrier going clear, then Amine Gouiri drilled just wide.
Mike Maignan had to make a double save on first Gouiri and then Baptiste Santamaria, as Milan started to take their foot off the gas.
Milan threatened too, as Mandanda parried the Pulisic solo effort and Azor Matusiwa made a goal-line clearance on the Noah Okafor follow-up, while Theo Hernandez blasted over from the edge of the box.
Ismael Bennacer’s free kick skimmed the crossbar after Reijnders was brought down just outside the box.
Milan 3-0 Rennes
Loftus-Cheek 32, 48 (M), Leao 53 (M)
| Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Assist: Alessandro Florenzi) |  | 32' |
| Ruben Loftus-Cheek | | 47' | ||
| Rafael Leão (Assist: Theo Hernández) | | 53' | ||
| 87' |  | Mahamadou Nagida |
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