UCL | Slovan Bratislava 2-3 Milan: Leao helps secure third victory | OneFootball

Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham allowed Milan a third consecutive Champions League victory, despite some comical defending against Slovan Bratislava.

The Rossoneri were feeling the pressure after a 3-1 win away to Real Madrid and disappointing Serie A results added to the general sense of inconsistency. Alvaro Morata was suspended, with Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi injured, plus Luka Jovic ineligible, so Abraham started with Rafael Leao rested. Davide Calabria and Pulisic returned to the starting XI after injury. Slovan Bratislava had lost all four Champions League games, scoring two goals and conceding 15, with Marko Tolic, Lukas Pauschek and Sharani Zuberu not fully fit, but ex-Milan veteran Juraj Kucka was back after knee surgery in September.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was a bright start from Samuel Chukwueze, who curled just wide, then went down too easily running into a defender, but the Rossoneri’s dominance didn’t prevent them nearly going behind on 15 minutes when David Strelec sprung the offside trap and got around Mike Maignan, denied only by a desperate Strahinja Pavlovic goal-line clearance.

Pulisic stung the goalkeeper’s gloves at the near post, but the American opened the scoring when he completed a rapid give and go with Abraham to sprint towards goal, placing the angled drive beyond Dominik Takac into the far bottom corner.

However, it lasted only a couple of minutes before Slovan Bratislava made good on the threat of that earlier opportunity. It was identical, another simple counter from a Milan attack, this time Tigran Barseghyan sprinting away undisturbed to beat Maignan one-on-one with a dinked finish.

The Rossoneri defence was caught out again until Fikayo Tomori blocked the roll across, while Tijjani Reijnders drilled wide from the edge of the area.

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA – NOVEMBER 26: Tammy Abraham of AC Milan scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between SK Slovan Bratislava and AC Milan at Narodny Futbalovy Stadion on November 26, 2024 in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)

Rafael Leao came on for the second half and Chukwueze had penalty appeals rejected when squirming between two defenders.

The Portuguese star made an impact, because he ran onto the Youssouf Fofana through ball to surprise the defence and already had a smile on his face even before flicking the delicate finish over the on-rushing goalkeeper.

Moments later, Slovan shot themselves in the foot with a huge error, as Strelec did not realise his back-pass was straight at Abraham, the English striker gladly accepting the gift to add a third goal.

There was controversy when Rafael Leao and Emerson Royal both went down under what looked like fouls, but the referee waved play on, Slovan countered and Nino Marcelli hit a ferocious long-range strike into the top corner, bending back Maignan’s glove.

Moments later the referee was involved again, showing two yellow cards in quick succession to Marko Tolic for dissent.

Slovan Bratislava 2-3 Milan

Pulisic 21 (M), Barseghyan 24 (S), Leao 68 (M), Abraham 71 (M), Marcelli 88 (S)

Sent off: Tolic 91 (S)

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