Milan finally have three points from three Champions League matches, although to be fair, the referee and Club Brugge deserve as much credit as Milan for winning 3-1 on Tuesday. While Fonseca made a lot of questionable decisions within this match, Brugge outplayed Milan for much of the time, even partially while down to ten men. But the first half red card was the most influential factor to the outcome. Well, that and a Reijnders brace, a Pulisic corner that turned into a goal, and Camarda's Champions League debut and his goal that was called back for offside. It was definitely an eventful match and an emotional roller coaster.
| So many ups and downs in this match, a heart rate monitor would have broken. |
Club Brugge were largely the better team in the first half. Ordóñez actually hit the crossbar in the eigth minute, although he was also offside. But Milan created chances as well, such as a great Pulisic chance in the 28th that Mignolet saved after a great give and go with Rafa Leão. Theão created a great chance together with a great Theo run that was stopped, just before Pulisic took a corner in the 34th. He admitted later that it was not even intentional, but Pulisic scored from that corner, an amazing goal. 1-0 Milan.
 |
| THAT free kick. Amazing. |
Suddenly, Milan were actually in the conversation again. Then disaster struck as Onyedinka collided with Reijnders in the 36th minute. The intent looked to be 50/50, but Onyedinka came in with studs up, and after a four minute VAR review, including an on field review, German referee Felix Zwayer showed Onyedinka a red card, sending him off and leaving Brugge on ten men. Reijnders knew exactly what that felt like, he was sent off on the weekend and will be suspended for our next league match. While this one was definitely the right call, it was also the gamechanger.
Near the beginning of the first half, Leão was shown a yellow card for almost playfully kicking the ball away from a Brugge player ahead of a set piece. Perhaps it was the card, perhaps his naiveté in earning a card for such a dumb move, but it did not win critics over. And, to make matters worse, Brugge's halftime sub, Sabbe, scored a goal right after that, too. 1-1 all. Morata, who played pretty much every position on the pitch, earned himself a yellow card for a foul on the goal scorer, whom Hayer had subbed on at the half.
 |
| Leão quite obviously caused Brugge the most problems in the first half. |
Whether it was from being substituted, or the crowd's reaction, or both, Leão was very dejected leaving the pitch, and literally as he was still walking off, Reijnders scored with an assist from Okafor. 2-1 Milan. Doing the exact same kind of thing Leão had been doing the whole game, but with Pulisic in the middle instead of Loftus-Cheek, and without two or three Brugge players all over him, it made it easy for Reijnders to connect. Fonseca was such a jerk for taking him off, and looked even more smug after the goal, it was all I could do to keep myself from reaching through my screen and smacking him across the face.
 |
| Changing the game one brace at a time. |
In the 75th minute, history was made as the youngest Milan and Italian player to ever play in a Champions League match took the pitch as Fonseca subbed Camarda on for Morata. Musah also replaced Fofana at that point, and then Thiaw replaced Gabbia in the 83rd minute. It seemed like poetry in the 87th when Camarda scored, that would make him the youngest goalscorer ever in the history of the Champions League. But VAR and Semi-automated Offside Technology had to get involved, and the goal was ruled out. Not before he had celebrated in front of the Curva Sud, where he had grown up sitting with his father, watching Milan play, though. It was so beautiful, and so painful when the goal was called off. And he was awarded a yellow card, too.
 |
| History maker. And his goals will come. |
And this is in no way to imply (like everyone else assumes) that Leão in some way assumes that he is God's gift to football or is guaranteed a starting spot by virtue of his very apparent talents. No. when others openly defied the manager, Leão got the message, put his head down, did everything the manager asked and then some, doing double training sessions and changing the way he played (for the worse, by the way, Fonseca is ruining him.) He had one of his best international breaks ever, has worked the hardest of anyone, yet is treated the worst.
 |
| He even looks like a villain. Being good at man management isn't that complicated. |
At the end of the match, I didn't even feel good about winning. The emotional ride was too much, but also, I am too angry at Fonseca. He has now won all of five matches from 11, two by virtue of VAR or a red card, two against relegation teams, and one against an ill-prepared Inter, and Milan are not really even playing convincing football. In fact, were it not for the red card, it is very, very possible he would have not gotten this win. Not unlike the season to date, this was match a very emotional roller coaster.
AC Milan U19 Draw 1-1 with Club Brugge KV U19
 |
| Ossola celebrates his last gasp equalizer. |
The U19 Primavera side took the pitch on Tuesday and were playing very well before giving up a goal just before halftime due to a terrible set of defensive blunders. But they stayed in the match, fought their way back, and last minute goal from Ossola salvaged the point, making it AC Milan U19 1, Club Brugge KV 1. Highlights are available. This leaves Guidi's Primavera side languishing in 28th place of 36 teams in the UEFA Youth League table, a surprising result based on performances. Their next match is away to Fiorentina in the league.
Milan Futuro Find their Second Victory in a 2-0 Win over Perugia
 |
| Captain Zeroli celebrates his first professional goal, a stunning overhead bicycle kick. |
Bonera's Milan Futuro side claimed only their second league victory with a 2-0 win away to Perugia on Sunday. Both goals were exceptional, with Alesi's coming from an exquisite free kick, while Zeroli's was an amazing overhead bicycle kick. As always, Serie C's YouTube channel has the highlights of the match. This win alone took them from dead last, in 20th place on the table, up to 17th place in Group B with a game in hand. Milan Futuro play once again on Wednesday.
Serie A Week 10