While a draw and a clean sheet certainly are not the worst outcomes for any side away against Borussia Dortmund, it feels like a missed opportunity for AC Milan.
This morning’s edition of Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews) recalls that Dortmund have not lost at home in Europe for two years, yet Milan emerge from yesterday’s Champions League match with many regrets and a sense of incompleteness.
The paper labels it a missed opportunity for the Rossoneri after they created several scoring chances, but just like in the game against Newcastle United the ruthlessness in front of goal required to win matches at this level was missing.
The result is zero goals scored in 180 minutes, despite many chances created over the two matches and in a demonstration of superiority over the opponent. There are now two points in the group table next to Milan’s name, when it could and should have been six.
Added to all this is Newcastle’s incredible victory over PSG (4-1) which will probably force the Rossoneri win at least one of the two matches against the Parisians.
Even though the summer transfer window addressed the imbalance in the attacking department, it was again the Leao-Theo combination down the left that looked like the main weapon.
When it flared up, the Portuguese and French duo were dangerous and especially in the second half it gave rise to almost all the dangerous actions.
Both Giroud, Pulisic and also Chukwueze badly wasted the three major opportunities to take the lead and the Diavolo were left with zero goals. Dortmund’s real chances in the first half all came with shots from distance, so one positive is the defensive effort.
