Milan Primavera’s excellent European run continued as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Youth League with a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
When Ignazio Abate’s side were put in a group with the talent factory that is Chelsea as well as last season’s finalists Red Bull Salzburg and the notoriously tough Dinamo Zagreb, it felt like an incredible achievement to finish top with four wins and two draws.
A last 16 win over FC Rukh Lviv from Ukraine followed but today’s game against Atletico Madrid – coached by none other than Fernando Torres – seemed as though it might be a step too far against a very talented side.
However, Dariusz Stalmach got the opening goal in the first half in front of a sold out PUMA House of Football (around 800 tickets sold) after an excellent passing move to cut open the visitors.
DARIUSZ STALMACH SCORES TO MAKE IT 1-0 AGAINST ATLETICO U19
Beatiful passing sequence!pic.twitter.com/Ldg82R6lr5— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 14, 2023
The next goal would be key and it came midway through the second half thanks to Youns El Hilali, who collected a feed from Chaka Traore and saw his shot deflect in.
EL HILALI SCORES TO MAKE IT 2-0
CHAKA TRAORE WITH THE ASSISTpic.twitter.com/dBiznZXP1J— ꜱᴄᴏᴜᴛ7ᴄᴀʟᴄɪᴏ (@Scout7Calcio) March 14, 2023
The result is that Milan have reached the final four in the youth equivalent of the Champions League for the first time in their history, a credit to Abate and his side.
#MilanPrimavera have reached the UEFA Youth League semi-finals for the first time in their history with a 2-0 quarter-final win over Atletico Madrid.pic.twitter.com/18YsW25ryU
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) March 14, 2023
Its embrassing that they understand thrid man runs and how to open up space outwide for the cross but the first team cannot.
Congratulations to you guys and hoping that our main team will follow suit…. FORZA MILAN PER SEMPRE ♥️ 🖤
Great result. There is definetly some good material in the squad for the first team and future of AC Milan.
i am proud for the boys at the primavera for this achievement. both goal was ended with a good finish after some neat sequence of play. hardly seen that with the first team lately. especially the good finish that missing a lot.
Three best players in this match: Stalmach, Eletu and Zeroli, two 17 years old and one 18 years old.