Milan faced a challenging match away to Slovan Bratislava in their Champions League group stage encounter on November 26, 2024. The game proved difficult, but Milan managed to secure a 3-2 win.
Also Read: UCL Match Report! Slovan Bratislava vs AC Milan Match Updates, News and Scores (26th November, 2024)
Christian Pulisic was one of the standout players, continuing his exceptional 2024 form with an early goal. Rafael Leao also came off the bench to play a pivotal role, while Tammy Abraham netted his first Champions League goal of the season.
Milan had to battle hard, with some moments of uncertainty, but they ultimately triumphed.
Here are the player ratings from the eventful evening in Slovakia:
Maignan – 5
Maignan was left helpless in the one-on-one situation for the Slovan equalizer, although he could have closed the gap a bit quicker. He got a fingertip to Marcelli’s second goal, but it was well-struck, and there were no other major saves made during the 90 minutes.
Calabria – 6
A decent return to the starting lineup for the Milan captain, completing 96% of his passes and winning 100% of his tackles. While he was solid, the defensive performance as a whole left something to be desired. He was substituted for Emerson Royal, who earned a rating of 5.
Tomori – 5.5
Tomori’s performance was steady, but he could have been quicker to close down Marcelli for Slovan’s second goal late in the match. Nonetheless, he didn’t make any major mistakes.
Pavlovic – 6.5
Pavlovic had a critical moment in the first half when he made a goal-line clearance that prevented a certain goal for Slovan. Had that ball gone in, the game might have taken a different turn, but his timely intervention helped Milan keep the lead.
Theo Hernandez – 5.5
By his high standards, Hernandez had a relatively unremarkable display. He wasn’t able to make his usual attacking contributions and defensively didn’t look as sharp, which is unusual for the Milan left-back.
Fofana – 6.5
Fofana continued to prove why he’s undroppable for Milan. Despite limited options in the midfield, he showed his importance again with an assist and worked tirelessly both in defense and going forward.
Reijnders – 6
Reijnders didn’t have the same level of involvement in the attacking play as in previous games, particularly when he was deployed in a more offensive role. However, he remained solid in the middle of the park and kept the tempo steady.
Chukwueze – 5.5
Chukwueze saw a fair amount of the ball in the first half, but he struggled to be productive with it. His runs and passing lacked the sharpness needed to create serious threats.
Pulisic – 7
Pulisic was once again one of Milan’s brightest stars. He opened the scoring in the 21st minute, continuing his exceptional form in 2024. Pulisic was a constant threat on the ball and could be a serious contender for Milan’s player of the season, even though it’s only November.
Okafor – 5
Okafor was largely ineffective in the first half and made way for Rafael Leao after the break. Leao’s introduction injected much-needed energy into the side, and he was able to provide the decisive impact.
Abraham – 7
Abraham played a vital role in both of Milan’s goals. He assisted Pulisic for the opening goal and was in the right place at the right time to capitalize on a Slovan defensive mistake and score his first Champions League goal of the season.
Leao – 6.5
Leao was a key substitution, providing an injection of energy that Milan needed. He scored an important goal to help seal the victory, just over 20 minutes after coming on, showing his importance to the team.
Milan’s hard-fought win keeps their Champions League hopes alive, with Pulisic leading the charge. While the team had moments of vulnerability, their resilience and individual contributions, such as from Abraham and Leao, ensured the victory. With this win, Milan can now look ahead to their next challenge, hoping to continue their momentum in the competition.
