3-0 at the San Siro was a huge win and only a miracle could remove Milan from reaching the round of 16 of the Europa League. But Rennes, forced to compete in this playoff after finishing second in the group behind Villarreal, does not stop believing in the miracle with a commendable attitude from its players with the greatest efficiency. Benjamin Bourigeaud, author of a hat trick (3-2).
It is not easy to play at Roazhon Park and Milan proved it. The extraordinary atmosphere in the stands made for a blistering start with a Rennes team that soon opened the scoring, fueling its fans’ hopes of a victory. Bourigeaud received him on the balcony of the place, they took some time to face him and His low shot beat Mike Maignan (Eleven’).
Jovic’s eighth goal
But Milan, included a very active Rafael Leao From the first whistle, he did not let himself be intimidated and tied down another providential goal from former Madrid player Luka Jovichis eighth of the season.
The Serbian, again the starter instead of Oliver Giroud Although he was sent off on Sunday in the defeat against Monza (4-2), he resolutely headed the perfect ball that Theo Hernández gave him in his first rise from the left (22′).
Bourigeaud remains hopeful
The 1-1 did not discourage Rennes, who continued to give it their all and played a vertical and fast game with the idea of keeping alive the dream of overcoming the tie.
Arnaud Kalimuendo forced Maignan to react to take his shot (27′) but it wasn’t until the second half that Rennes got on the scoreboard again with the first of two penalties converted by Bourigeaud, this is due to Simon Kjaer’s foul on Martin Terrier (54′).
Leao took the lead and connected with a great goal
As after 1-0, Milan reacted again, preventing the pass from becoming more complicated than necessary. Leao, who had a great opportunity stopped by Steve Mandanda, He almost started from the center of the field on the left and, after getting past two defenders, he also beat Mandanda himself, scoring in an empty goal even though the rebound favored him (58′).
Rennes by Julian Stephan He never gave up in a commendable exercise of rebellion to the extreme and earned the reward of being eliminated in a victory that Bourigeaud proved by taking another penalty for Jovic’s hand on a Kalimuendo header (68′ ).
Milan hold on to three centre-backs
With half an hour to go, Rennes’ run was never stopped but Milan imposed their task on introduce Stefano Pioli third central defender (Malick Thiaw) and, after returning from the Champions League, they are still in contention in the Europa League.
match lineup
30
17
3
8
23
5
14
33
9
10
7
16
42
19
14
24
46
Eleven
4
fifteen
80
10
Roazhon Park
Mike Maignan16
78′
56′
Alessandro Florenzi42
83′
Theo Hernandez19
56′
Tijjani Reijnders14
Simon Kjær24
52′
Matteo Gabbia46
10′
53′
67′
Christian PulisicEleven
60′
71′
Ismaël Bennacer4
60′
Luka Jovicfifteen
twenty-one’
68′
83′
Yunus Musah80
79′
71′
Rafael Leao10
57′
60′
Replacements
Marco Sportiello57
Antonio Mirante83
Malick Thiaw28
79′
Clinton Nsiala-Makengo84
56′
David Bartesaghi95
56′
Yacine Adli7
71′
Ruben Loftus-Cheek8
60′
Filippo Terracciano38
83′
71′
Victor Eletu81
Olivier Giroud9
83′
Noah Okafor17
60′
Samuel Chukwuezetwenty-one
60′
coach
Julien Stephan
Stefano Pioli
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
