AC Milan finally secured their first victory in this season’s Champions League, defeating Club Brugge 3-1 in a thrilling encounter at San Siro. Despite a shaky start, where the Belgian side looked far more dangerous, Milan managed to claw their way to three points, showcasing moments of brilliance amid an otherwise nervy performance.
The match began with Club Brugge dominating proceedings. Ferran Jutglà had two golden chances early on, but Milan’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan stood tall to keep the scoreline level. Milan, while seeing more of the ball, seemed unsettled, with Brugge exploiting gaps in their defense and nearly punishing them on several occasions.
However, a moment of brilliance in the 34th minute broke the deadlock, as Christian Pulisic’s corner kick found its way into the net in a stunning Olympico goal. This goal came against the run of play, but Milan went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Despite the lead, the Italian side had been largely outplayed by a vibrant Brugge team that deserved more from the first 45 minutes. The second half opened with an unexpected twist as 10-man Brugge, reduced by Raphael Onyedika’s red card, managed to equalize in the 51st minute through Kyriani Sabbe. The equalizer stunned the San Siro faithful, as Brugge continued to threaten despite their numerical disadvantage.
Milan, however, responded quickly. Tijjani Reijnders gave Milan the lead again with a calm finish after being set up by substitute Noah Okafor, who made an instant impact with a brilliant run and assist. From that point, Milan seized control of the game. Reijnders added a second to his tally late in the match, courtesy of an assist from Samuel Chukwueze, sealing a 3-1 victory for the Rossoneri.
A late goal by 16-year-old Francesco Camarda was ruled offside, denying him a dream debut goal, but Milan had done enough to claim their first win in this season’s competition.
Despite the win, Milan’s defense showed vulnerabilities, and Brugge’s counter-attacks kept the home side on edge. Yet, with Pulisic’s brilliance and Reijnders’ contributions, they managed to pull through, and the three points will be a relief for Stefano Pioli’s men.
Final score: AC Milan 3-1 Club Brugge.
