A scrappy contest at the Wanda Metropolitano appeared set to quit goalless until Milan replacement Junior Messias headed domestic a dramatic winner inside the 87th minute to depart Atletico staring down the barrel of an early go out. Messias' intention now not most effective way Atleti will want a victory rather than a attract Porto on December 7 but it also brings Milan returned to lifestyles, as they sit only a factor behind Porto in advance of their ultimate match against Liverpool on the San Siro.
Atletico Madrid are degree on factors with Milan however under them on intention distinction, with qualification even to the Europa League now far from positive. All however of Atleti's preceding 11 Champions League institution appearances have visible them attain the last sixteen whilst Milan are participating at this level for the primary time considering that 2014.
But Milan deserved their late winner, after showing a ways greater ambition in a game that Atleti contributed very little to in any innovative sense. Both teams got here in without the assurance of new victories, with Milan, 2d in Serie A, losing to Fiorentina final weekend on the lower back of a draw in opposition to Inter.
Atletico sit down fourth in La Liga and have persisted a blended begin to the season, from which the biggest doubts have arisen round an increasingly leaky defence. Their win over Osasuna on Saturday turned into handiest their 2nd in seven matches. Their fine chance of the primary 1/2 got here in the 0.33 minute as Yannick Carrasco crossed and Rodrigo de Paul's tried finish brushed the outside of the submit. The relaxation of the hole forty five mins turned into brief on fine, with both teams let down through a loss of precision inside the very last 0.33.
Milan, although, were the leader aggressors and even as Atletico allowed frustration with the referee to grow, their largest hassle become escaping the Milan press, which for lengthy spells contained them in their very own half of. Theo Hernandez, who got here through the kids set-up at Atletico most effective to leave for Real Madrid in 2017, for which he was always whistled at some point of, perhaps had Milan's clearest possibility but he lashed huge on the a long way put up.
Milan have been nonetheless the extra cohesive team early in the 2nd half of, with Simon Kjaer heading over from a crossed unfastened-kick. Diego Simeone delivered on Angel Correa and Renan Lodi even as Stefano Pioli delivered 4 substitutes, such as the 40-year-vintage Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Two of them mixed to create a golden risk in the 71st minute, Messias freed down the left and pulling lower back for Tiemoue Bakayoko 8 yards out but his end become blocked by the right knee of Stefan Savic.
Atletico were wilting and Milan sniffed a winner. Ibrahimovic changed into slipped through but denied by using a exquisite left-surpassed save via Jan Oblak and if that was a warning, Atletico failed to heed it, due to the fact moments later Messias headed in.
Franck Kessie hooked a top notch left-footed cross into the middle, where Messias found a gap three yards out. The Milan bench sprawled onto the pitch in celebration.
