Milan’s Champions League journey came to a devastating end as Feyenoord knocked them out, leaving fans in disbelief. Despite a promising start, a costly red card for Théo Hernandez shifted the momentum, allowing Feyenoord to secure their place in the last 16 with a 2-1 aggregate win.
The match at San Siro kicked off with Milan displaying confidence and attacking intent. Right from the first minute, forward Santiago Giménez made his mark, scoring against his former team. Milan fans erupted with excitement as the early goal canceled out Feyenoord’s first-leg advantage.
The goal came from a well-worked short corner move, where Christian Pulisic delivered a perfect cross to Malick Thiaw. The defender’s header found Giménez, who nodded the ball over the line. Out of respect for his former club, Giménez refrained from celebrating – but Milan fans had every reason to believe a comeback was on.
Shortly after, João Félix had a golden chance to extend the lead but skied his shot over the bar. Feyenoord’s goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther made crucial saves, denying Félix and keeping the Dutch side alive. Meanwhile, Manchester City loanee Kyle Walker saw his powerful shot pushed away just after the break.
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Théo Hernandez’s Red Card – A Game-Changer
Milan looked like the stronger side until Théo Hernandez made a critical mistake in the 51st minute. In an attempt to win a penalty, he went down theatrically in the box, but the referee saw through his dive. Having already received a yellow card earlier, Hernandez was sent off for simulation, leaving Milan with 10 men and their momentum shattered.
Theo Hernandez kendini penaltı için yere attı, 2. sarı karttan kırmızı kart gördü. Ve Milan elendi! Theo’nun sahtekarlığının cezası kesildi.
Ama Mertens’in sahtekarlıklarının, Torreira’nın Osimhen’in sahtekarlıklarının Süper Lig’de cezası kesilmiyor!pic.twitter.com/p1kN8Tbras
— Rıdvan Aksu (@AksuTw) February 18, 2025
This proved to be a turning point. With Milan down to ten men, Feyenoord found their rhythm. They only needed one clear chance, and when Hugo Bueno delivered a perfect cross, Julián Carranza made no mistake, heading the ball past Milan’s goalkeeper. The goal put Feyenoord 2-1 up on aggregate, leaving the Italian giants scrambling for answers.
Milan’s Desperate Attempts Fall Short
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Milan pushed forward in search of another goal. Pulisic, Walker, and Félix continued to test Feyenoord’s defense, but they couldn’t find the breakthrough. Wellenreuther remained solid, making crucial saves to deny Milan any hope of a late winner.
Tempers flared after the final whistle, leading to another red card for Feyenoord’s defender Givairo Reed as tensions boiled over. Feyenoord’s interim manager Pascal Bosschaart, who had stepped in just two days before the first leg, was full of praise for his team’s fighting spirit.
Bosschaart’s Reaction: ‘This Team Has Character!’
In his post-match interview, Bosschaart couldn’t hide his pride.
“This team has received a lot of criticism, had a change of coach, and yet they showed incredible character. That’s what I’m most proud of,” he said.
Feyenoord will now face either Inter or Arsenal in the last 16, with the draw set for Friday.
Atalanta’s Nightmare – Club Brugge Stuns Italian Side
It was a night to forget for Atalanta, as they were completely outclassed by Club Brugge in their playoff match. The Belgian side arrived in Bergamo with a 2-1 first-leg lead and wasted no time extending it.
Within three minutes, Ferran Jutglà provided an assist for Chemsdine Talbi, who smashed the ball into the bottom corner. The 19-year-old sensation doubled his tally soon after, scoring from a rebound to make it 4-1 on aggregate.
Atalanta tried to fight back, with Ademola Lookman scoring within 35 seconds of coming off the bench. However, his penalty miss on the hour mark killed Atalanta’s hopes of a dramatic comeback.
To make matters worse, captain Rafael Toloi received a straight red card after a reckless shove on Maxim De Cuyper. Brugge finished the tie with a commanding 5-2 aggregate win and will now face either Lille or Aston Villa in the next round.
Benfica Edges Past Monaco in a Thriller
While Milan and Atalanta bowed out, Benfica secured a hard-fought 4-3 aggregate win over Monaco in a thrilling encounter.
After Kerem Akturkoglu put Benfica ahead early in the game, Monaco responded through Takumi Minamino and Eliesse Ben Seghir. The tie looked set for extra time, but Benfica was awarded a penalty when Monaco’s Thilo Kehrer fouled Fredrik Aursnes.
Vangelis Pavlidis converted from the spot, giving Benfica the lead again. Monaco fought back and took a 3-2 lead on the night, but Orkun Kokcu’s late goal ensured Benfica progressed to the last 16, where they will meet either Barcelona or Liverpool.
What’s Next in the Champions League?
With these dramatic results, Wednesday night’s games will decide the final four places in the last 16.
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City – Can City overturn a first-leg deficit?
- Dortmund vs Sporting – A closely contested battle awaits.
- PSG vs Brest – Will Mbappé and co. secure qualification?
- Juventus vs PSV – Can Juve hold onto their narrow advantage?
The Champions League is delivering unforgettable drama, and fans can expect even more surprises in the next round.
