Leao accolades and extended streaks: All the key stats from AC Milan vs. Girona | OneFootball

AC Milan obtained a valuable three points in their quest to get a top eight spot in the Champions League, beating Girona 1-0 at San Siro.

Rafael Leão scored the decisive goal in the 37th minute, assisted by Ismaël Bennacer after a brilliant recovery in midfield. Although it wasn’t a vintage performance, it does continue a positive run in the Champions League.

It is also a first clean sheet under Sergio Conceicao which will please him, even if he did admit there is a lot of work to be done out of position. Below are the key statistics from the match.

Give and take

What is perhaps quite surprising – given that Milan were at home against a side who had lost five in six in Europe before kick-off – was that Girona dominated possession (58%) and had more big chances (3 to 2).

However, the Rossoneri had the more dangerous opportunities (1.37 xG to 0.90), as well as more overall shots, shots on target and double the amount of corners.

Ceding possession to the LaLiga side might therefore have been a ploy, with the aim being to contain and counter at speed, as seen with the opportunities created in the first half.

Building a streak

It was a first ever meeting against Girona, but Milan have now won three consecutive matches against Spanish teams for the first time in the European Cup/Champions League.

The Rossoneri have won at least five consecutive matches for the third time in their Champions League history (five also in 2004-05 under Carlo Ancelotti, and the first six ever in the competition in 1992/93 under Fabio Capello).

Moreover, it was since January-April 2024 that Milan had not remained unbeaten for at least eight consecutive home matches (4W, 4D) in all competitions (eight also in that case).

Milan have hit the woodwork six times (like PSG) in this Champions League (twice against Girona): only Manchester City has more (7). Additionally, four of the last five Champions League matches in which the Rossoneri hit at least two woodworks were played at home.

It was since October 2023 that the Diavolo had not kept a clean sheet in a Champions League match (against Borussia Dortmund).

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Individual acclaim

Before Sérgio Conceição, the last coach to win his first Champions League match in charge of Milan was Massimiliano Allegri in 2010-11 against Auxerre.

Leão has scored a goal in each of the last three Champions League matches: as many as in all the previous 24 games played in the competition. Before him, the last AC Milan player to score in three consecutive Champions League matches was Zlatan Ibrahimovic: five in a row between 2011 and 2012.

Since Milan returned to the Champions League (2021-22), no Rossonero has scored more goals than Rafael Leão in the competition (six, like Olivier Giroud).

With his goal against Girona, the former Lille man moved into the top 20 scorers in Milan’s all-time history (all competitions) with 66 goals. The Portuguese winger overtook Angelo Sormani, with Giovanni Moretti (67 goals) next up on the list.

Finally, it was a first assist by Ismaël Bennacer – who had his best performance since returning from injury – in 17 Champions League matches.