AC Milan’s Champions League Knockout Hopes in the Balance After Dinamo Zagreb Defeat

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AC Milan suffered a setback in their quest for automatic Champions League qualification, falling to a 2-1 defeat against Dinamo Zagreb.1 Despite taking an early lead and later playing against ten men, the Croatian side were unable to do enough to reach the knockout stages. For Milan, the loss means they must now navigate a play-off round to reach the last 16.

Dinamo Zagreb, needing a victory to keep their Champions League hopes alive, started strongly and took the lead in the 19th minute when Martin Baturina capitalized on a mistake by Matteo Gabbia to score.2 Milan’s task was made even harder when Yunus Musah was sent off for a second yellow card just before half-time.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Milan fought back and equalized through Christian Pulisic early in the second half.3 However, Dinamo Zagreb regained the lead through Marko Pjaca’s close-range finish, and a late penalty appeal from Milan was overturned by VAR.4

The defeat means Milan finish 13th in the Champions League group stage and will now face either Feyenoord or Juventus in the play-off round. Dinamo Zagreb, despite the victory, finished 25th and were eliminated from the competition.5

Milan’s Missed Opportunity

This loss is a disappointment for Milan, who had the opportunity to secure a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the last 16. Their performance was far from their best, with defensive errors and a lack of discipline proving costly.

Dinamo Zagreb, despite ultimately falling short, can be proud of their performance. They showed determination and resilience to defeat a strong Milan side, even with the odds stacked against them.

Milan now face a challenging play-off tie against either Feyenoord or Juventus, with their hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages hanging in the balance. They will need to improve their performance and avoid the mistakes that cost them against Dinamo Zagreb if they are to progress further in the competition.


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