AC Milan legend Alessandro Costacurta is concerned about his side’s Champions League prospects following their defeat at home to Atletico Madrid and a thumping win for an “unplayable” Liverpool side last night, speaking to Sky, via Tuttomercatoweb.
After losing 3-2 at Anfield on their first Champions League outing in almost a decade – a scoreline that flattered the visitors more than a dominant Liverpool – Stefano Pioli and co could have done with a win when Atletico came to town.
And, until the final few moments at a raucous San Siro, it looked as though they would get one too.
That was until Antoine Griezmann scored his first Atletico goal since April 2019, cancelling out Rafael Leao’s opener and breaking the brave resistance of ten-man Milan with 84 minutes on the clock.
If that was disappointing, Luis Suarez’s winner – seven minutes into stoppage time – felt like a dagger plunged in the pulmonary artery.
After two games, Milan are bottom of Group B with a big fat ‘zero’ in the points column.
They are also six adrift of a Liverpool side that pummelled Porto on their hallowed Estadio do Dragao soil. Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino rolled back the years in a 5-1 thrashing that, in truth, could have been more.
Is it a case of Liverpool and Atletico or can AC Milan still reach the Champions League round of 16?
“Right now, in the Milan group, there is Liverpool who are unplayable,” says Costacurta, a Champions League winner in 1994, 2003 and 2007.
“Of course, for Milan the draw (against Atletico) would have been really important. Compared with the Liverpool knockout, this defeat provides a bit of morale, but it’s a shame about that last twist.”
Milan, at least, have successive games against Porto to look forward to.
And if the Dragoes defend like they did against Liverpool last night, a Milan side boasting the attacking talent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Olivier Giroud and Ante Rebic will be back in contention for a top-two spot before long.
All is not lost. Not yet anyway.
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