Juventus delivered a major blow to AC Milan’s top-four ambitions with a commanding 2-0 victory at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening. The defeat marked Milan’s first under new coach Sergio Conceicao and widened the gap between the two sides in the race for Champions League qualification.
Match Recap: Juventus Too Strong for Milan
- First Half: A Tactical Battle
- Both teams started aggressively, but Juventus gradually gained control.
- Milan struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Juventus’ defense holding firm.
- Second Half: Juventus Take Over
- 59′ – Mbangula’s Lucky Breakthrough:
- Samuel Mbangula’s shot deflected off Emerson Royal, wrong-footing Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
- 64′ – Weah Doubles the Lead:
- Timothy Weah, son of Milan legend George Weah, finished off a quick counterattack, beating Fikayo Tomori before slotting home.
- 59′ – Mbangula’s Lucky Breakthrough:
- Milan’s Late Push Falls Short
- Theo Hernandez’s free-kick sailed wide, and young substitute Francesco Camarda missed a header in the closing stages.
- Final Score: Juventus 2-0 AC Milan
Player Ratings & Analysis
Juventus (4-2-3-1 Formation)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Michele Di Gregorio | 7.4/10 (Solid performance, kept a clean sheet) |
| RB: Andrea Cambiaso | 7.3/10 (Strong defensively, good overlapping runs) |
| CB: Federico Gatti | 7.6/10 (Commanding presence at the back) |
| CB: Pierre Kalulu | 7.5/10 (Solid defending, won key duels) |
| LB: Weston McKennie | 7.2/10 (Energetic, contributed both ways) |
| CM: Khéphren Thuram | 7.3/10 (Controlled midfield, subbed off in 83’) |
| CM: Manuel Locatelli | 7.8/10 (Dictated tempo, excellent positioning) |
| RW: Samuel Mbangula | 8.1/10 (Scored the opener, constantly a threat) |
| CAM: Teun Koopmeiners | 7.9/10 (Creative, played key passes) |
| LW: Kenan Yildiz | 7.4/10 (Caused problems for Milan’s defense) |
| ST: Nicolás González | 7.0/10 (Good hold-up play, subbed off in 83’) |
Substitutes:
- Douglas Luiz (75’ for Koopmeiners): 6.8/10
- Dusan Vlahovic (83’ for González): 6.5/10
- Nicolo Fagioli (83’ for Thuram): 6.4/10
- Matija Adzic (90’ for Mbangula): N/A
🔹 Player of the Match: Timothy Weah (8.2/10)
AC Milan (4-2-3-1 Formation)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Mike Maignan | 6.7/10 (Made key saves, unlucky with deflected goal) |
| RB: Emerson Royal | 6.3/10 (Unfortunate own-goal deflection, struggled defensively) |
| CB: Matteo Gabbia | 6.8/10 (Held his ground but overworked) |
| CB: Fikayo Tomori | 6.5/10 (Beaten by Weah for second goal) |
| LB: Theo Hernandez | 6.9/10 (Tried to push forward but lacked end product) |
| CM: Ismaël Bennacer | 6.8/10 (Good passing but subbed in 62’) |
| CM: Youssouf Fofana | 6.7/10 (Lost the midfield battle) |
| RW: Yunus Musah | 6.4/10 (Ineffective in attack) |
| CAM: Tijjani Reijnders | 6.5/10 (Struggled to create chances) |
| LW: Rafael Leao | 7.0/10 (Milan’s brightest spark but lacked final touch) |
| ST: Tammy Abraham | 6.3/10 (Starved of service, struggled to make an impact) |
Substitutes:
- Jimenez (62’ for Bennacer): 6.6/10
- Francesco Camarda (75’ for Emerson Royal): 6.7/10
- Filippo Terracciano (80’ for Reijnders): 6.5/10
Key Takeaways from the Match
✅ Juventus Strengthen Top-Four Bid
- Now firmly in Champions League qualification spots, bouncing back from their Supercoppa Italiana loss.
✅ Timothy Weah Shines Against Father’s Former Club
- The winger sealed the victory with a brilliant counterattack goal, adding to his growing reputation.
✅ AC Milan’s Struggles Continue
- Conceicao suffers his first defeat, with Milan’s injuries and suspensions proving costly.
✅ Milan’s Attack Lacked Firepower
- Tammy Abraham was isolated, and despite Leao’s energy, they couldn’t break down Juventus’ defense.
✅ Juventus’ Defensive Resilience Pays Off
- Kept a clean sheet against a dangerous Milan attack, showing strong organization at the back.
What’s Next?
- Juventus: Will look to continue their momentum in Serie A as they push for a higher league finish.
- AC Milan: Need a big response to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
FAQs
- Who scored for Juventus?
- Samuel Mbangula (59’) and Timothy Weah (64’).
- Why did AC Milan struggle?
- Injuries and suspensions affected their squad, and they lacked cutting edge in attack.
- How did Timothy Weah perform?
- He scored Juventus’ second goal and was a constant attacking threat.
- What does this result mean for the Serie A table?
- Juventus move closer to securing a Champions League spot, while Milan’s top-four hopes take a hit.
- What’s next for both teams?
- Juventus aim to maintain momentum, while Milan must bounce back to stay in the top-four race.
