
Thiaw's wretched miss at the end sullied his evening but the 21-year-old formed part of an uncompromising defensive unit alongside Pierre Kalulu and Simon Kjaer, whose running battle with Kane was one of the match's more captivating features. Pioli recently switched to a back three in an attempt to solve Milan's dwindling fortunes this term. Football on BT Sport FebruStefano Pioli's Milan tactical switch pays off Oliver Skipp speaks after making his first Champions League start in Tottenham's defeat in Milan. It's now back-to-back 1-0 wins for the Rossoneri but, on this evidence, most sides in the Champions League would be happy to draw the winner of this tie in the quarter-finals. Tottenham were hammered 4-1 by Leicester City at the weekend and without key personnel, while Milan only managed to snap a seven-game winless run in their previous game against Torino. The form of both sides could look very different by the time they reconvene in London next month but it's safe to say neither team are in a great place right now. MORE: Champions League Round of 16 predictions Can AC Milan or Tottenham win the Champions League?
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Tottenham will have to do much more in an attacking sense on their own patch to make Milan pay for that wastefulness. Harry Kane engaged in a compelling battle with Simon Kjaer throughout the contest, while Milan passed up the sort of chances the England captain was unable to find at San Siro.Īt the other end, Giroud rose highest to meet Rafael Leao’s cross and De Ketelaere, who is yet to score since joining Milan from Club Brugge, misjudged his header.Īnother Leao cross a few moments later was met by Thiaw, who was similarly unable to find the target from inside the six-yard box. Spurs’ main threat before halftime came from set-piece situations, with Son Heung-min invited to swing dangerous balls into the box by a deep-lying Milan defensive line, although Stefano Pioli’s seemingly risky defensive tactic ultimately won through.


CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ February 14, 2023īrahim Diaz scores for Serie A holders Milan. The Tottenham keeper then produced an astonishing fingertip stop from Diaz’s initial follow-up but the Spanish forward remained alive to the possibilities and converted a diving header more or less on the goalline.īrahim Diaz gets the party started at the San Siro less than 10 minutes into the match. MORE: Final group standings for the 2022/23 Champions LeagueĪrgentina World Cup winner Cristian Romero produced an erratic display in the Tottenham backline and he was beaten aerially by Theo Hernandez in a duel that led to the decisive goal.įrance wing-back Hernandez drove into the Tottenham box and fired a shot that was saved by Forster.


Tottenham enjoyed spells of attacking pressure thereafter but lacked cutting edge, with Milan carrying the greater threat as substitute Charles De Ketelaere and defender Malick Thiaw wasted glorious chances during the closing stages.īy that stage, Eric Dier had collected a booking for a foul on Olivier Giroud that will rule the England defender out of next month’s return leg. Brahim Diaz’s early goal was enough for AC Milan to claim a 1-0 win over Tottenham in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match.įormer Inter boss Antonio Conte was back on the San Siro touchline despite his recent gallbladder surgery, only to see his team fall behind in the seventh minute when former Manchester City youngster Diaz headed home despite the best efforts of Spurs goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
