Despite being thoroughly outplayed at the San Siro, Newcastle celebrated its re-entry into Europe’s elite competition with a 0-0 draw against AC Milan on Tuesday.
Milan’s sloppy finishing and superb saves from Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope allowed the visitors to earn a draw in the team’s first Champions League match in 20 years.
Given that Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain are also in Group F, Milan may regret its squandered opportunities. Milan should have ended the game in the first half.
The hosts had 25 shots on goal compared to Newcastle’s six, but the English team came close to winning in the dying minutes. Sean Longstaff’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, who made the only Milan stop of the game.
The Rossoneri came into this game following a humiliating 5-1 loss to city rivals Inter Milan at the weekend that put an end to their perfect start to the season.
Newcastle had been absent from the Champions League since 2002-03 but the visitors did not seem daunted by the occasion.
The English team got off to a strong start but nearly crumbled as Milan besieged their goal for ten minutes
The first attempt at goal fell to Tommaso Pobega from a distance. Poep comfortably parried that shot away but unlikely the ball got crossed back in for a header by Samuel Chukwueze, which the Newcastle goalkeeper also parried at his near post.
Pope had to utilize a variety of body parts to stop Olivier Giroud, Rade Krunic, and Théo Hernandez from continuing the Milan assault.
Rafael Leo almost managed to go past the Newcastle goal in the 34th minute, but he tripped over himself while seemingly attempting a backheel shot. On the rebound, Pobega was able to get off a shot, but Jacob Murphy successfully cleared it off the line.
Tijjani Reijnders and Christian Pulisic entered the game together in the 61st minute, but Reijnders’ shot was feeble and simple for Pope to save.
In the 74th minute, Leo’s flying header from a superb cross by Alessandro Florenzi narrowly missed the crossbar.
The injuries suffered by midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek and goalie Mike Maignan will make Milan even more frustrated after this result.
