AC Milan secured their first points in the UEFA Champions League this season with a 3-1 victory over Belgian champions Club Brugge at the San Siro. The win, powered by two second-half goals from Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, gives Milan a much-needed boost in Group F after a shaky start to their European campaign.
The seven-time European champions had endured a frustrating opening to their Champions League journey, losing their first two matches—1-0 away to Bayer Leverkusen and 3-1 at home against Liverpool. However, Milan’s spirited performance against Club Brugge on Tuesday night provided a timely response as they look to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive.
Milan’s Early Struggles and Pulisic’s Stunning Opener
Despite playing at home, Milan got off to a shaky start, with Club Brugge pushing aggressively from the first whistle. The Belgian side, full of confidence after their win over Sturm Graz, put Milan’s defense under pressure in the opening minutes. Brugge had two goal attempts within the first three minutes, with Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan called into action early. Christos Tzolis, Brugge’s lively forward, saw his effort from inside the box well saved by Maignan. Minutes later, Tzolis threatened again, forcing another save from Maignan before Joel Ordonez rattled the crossbar from a distance following a corner.
Despite Brugge’s early dominance, AC Milan gradually grew into the game. Milan’s first real chance came just before the half-hour mark when Simon Mignolet, Brugge’s veteran goalkeeper, made a superb save to deny Christian Pulisic from close range. However, Mignolet was helpless minutes later when Pulisic opened the scoring in stunning fashion.
In the 34th minute, Pulisic sent a perfectly curled corner kick into the box that evaded everyone, including Mignolet, and flew straight into the net. The goal was a testament to Pulisic’s technical quality and marked his second Champions League goal of the season. The U.S. international remains Milan’s top scorer across all competitions this season, with five goals in Serie A and two in Europe.
Onyedika’s Red Card and Brugge’s Equalizer
Just when it seemed Milan had found their rhythm, the game took a decisive turn in their favor. In the 40th minute, Club Brugge’s midfielder Raphael Onyedika was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for a foul on Tijjani Reijnders. The dismissal left Brugge down to 10 men and significantly shifted the momentum in Milan’s favor.
Despite being a man down, Brugge continued to show resilience after the break. The Belgian side found an equalizer in the 50th minute through substitute Kyriani Sabbe. The 19-year-old, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes, latched onto a low cross from Hugo Vetlesen and fired a shot into the far corner, beating Maignan to level the score at 1-1. Brugge’s determination and ability to capitalize on their limited chances kept Milan on edge, despite the numerical disadvantage.
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Reijnders’ Brace Seals the Victory
With the match finely poised, Milan needed a response—and they found it through the man of the moment, Tijjani Reijnders. In the 61st minute, the Dutch midfielder restored Milan’s lead with a composed finish from inside the penalty area. A clever back pass from Noah Okafor set Reijnders up perfectly, and the midfielder made no mistake, slotting the ball past Mignolet to make it 2-1.
Brugge, now on the back foot, struggled to contain Milan’s attacking pressure as the game wore on. In the 71st minute, Reijnders struck again to give Milan breathing room. This time, Samuel Chukwueze delivered an inch-perfect pass to Reijnders, who calmly fired home his second goal of the night. The Dutch midfielder’s brace not only secured the victory but also marked his first goals of the season across all competitions, providing a timely boost for the Rossoneri as they fight to progress in Europe.
Tijjani times two #UCL pic.twitter.com/a3WzpU3LmZ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 22, 2024
Milan thought they had added a fourth goal late on when 16-year-old Francesco Camarda headed the ball into the net. However, the teenager’s goal was ruled out for offside, denying the youngster a dream moment at the San Siro.
Milan’s First Champions League Points and What’s Next
AC Milan’s 3-1 win over Club Brugge gave them their first points of the Champions League campaign, a result that keeps their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive. After back-to-back defeats in their opening group matches, this victory provides much-needed momentum for Stefano Pioli’s side as they prepare for tougher tests ahead.
Milan, who were eliminated at the group stage last season, will face defending champions Real Madrid in their next European outing on November 5. That match will be a significant challenge for the Rossoneri, but their victory over Brugge will give them confidence as they aim to upset the Spanish giants at the Bernabeu.
For Club Brugge, the loss leaves them with one win from their first three group-stage matches. The Belgian champions will look to bounce back when they host Aston Villa on November 6. Despite being down to 10 men for most of the match against Milan, Brugge showed resilience and will need to harness that fighting spirit as they attempt to keep their Champions League campaign on track.
