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.
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.
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.