A depleted AC Milan lost their place at the top of Group E, after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on the Champions League Matchday 3 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. An early goal from Wesley Fofana and second-half strikes from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Reece James secured a crucial three points for the Londoners.
With first team regulars Mike Maignan, Davide Calabria, Simon Kjaer and Theo Hernandez absent through injury, the Rossoneri started far too passive in London and allowed the Premier League side to dominate much of the first 45 minutes in the English capital.
Lack of desire from Milan
Just five minutes in Mason Mount sent a low curling effort towards goal which Ciprian Tatarusanu tipped around the goalpost, indicating how dominant the 2021 winners of the competition would be.
They forced the Romanian custodian to tip a Thiago Silva header over the crossbar on 22 minutes before taking the lead moments later. The Brazilian defender sent another headed effort towards the goal, that Tatarusanu failed to collect and, after a scramble in the penalty area, fellow defender Wesley Fofana slotted the ball home.
Just 10 minutes later, Chelsea had the ball in the net once more, but Mount was offside when receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Aubameyang, that the England international lofted over the helpless Milan goalkeeper.
Milan in a mess
After the break, things went from bad to worse for the Milanese giants. On 56 minutes, the Rossoneri were slow to close down a clearance and James sent over a cross that, with the Milan defence in disarray, allowed Aubameyang to tap in from four yards.
With the visitors struggling to regain their composure, Graham Potter’s team passed their way around the Rossoneri players as if they weren’t there. Eventually slipping in the overlapping James, who smashed a third goal past Tatarusanu to all but confirm victory.
RB Salzburg’s victory over Dinamo Zagreb earlier in the evening had allowed the Austrian club to move top of Group E and, with this defeat, the Rossoneri now sit third in the standing, and will need to show far more attacking intent when Chelsea head to the San Siro next week.
