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Commentary
Minute
Description
90' +3
The referee ends the contest.
90' +2
Athens win a free-kick and Galo pumps the ball long into the box from half-way line, but a foul by Cosic in the box stops the attack.
90'
WIDE! Johansson drives forward through the Milan half before striking 25 yards from goal. His effort has the power, but just lacks the accuracy to beat Donnarumma, flying past the post.
Calhanoglu collects on the left flank and lifts the ball to the back post, but his cross sails over the head of Kessie and out for a goal-kick. Again the lack of quality prevents Milan from threatening.
There will be three minutes of added time.
87'
The game remains in the balance as we head into the final throes. Does one team have a moment of magic in them to secure the three points?
85'
Calhanonglu whips the ball into the box, but Anestis comes off his line through a crowd of players to punch the ball clear.
Lopes goes down on the edge of the box as he tries to clear the danger in a clash of heads with Montolivo. The referee awards a free-kick, but play is stopped as the left-back receives treatment.
84'
Borini probes down the right and he hammers a low ball towards the near post, but Vranjes is able to clear over his own bar.
81'
N. Kalinić enters the game and replaces André Silva.
Silva is replaced by Kalinic.
Galo lifts the ball into the box, but Vranjes is caught offside as he rises to head at goal. A wasted opportunity for the home side.
80'
Giakoumakis is brought down by Bonucci in the Milan half and Athens will have an opportunity to send a cross into the box, although the angle is not a great one.
79'
G. Giakoumakis enters the game and replaces S. Araújo.
Giakoumakis replaces Araujo for the home side.
77'
Araujo sends the ball forward down the right, but Romagnoli clears the ball away from Livaja's run before being wiped out by his own keeper.
Minute
Description
76'
SAVE! Athens break on the counter through Araujo and Galanopoulos, with the latter setting the winger up for a strike from 25 yards. Donnarumma watches the ball all the way and is able to make a comfortable save.
73'
Livaja wins a corner down the right flank, but the visitors are able to clear the resulting delivery from Simoes with ease. The quality from the wide areas has not been there from both sides this evening.
71'
The tempo of the game has dropped slightly. Both teams appear to be conserving their energy for one last push in the last 10 minutes.
69'
Galo surges forward into the final third and with few options around him, he goes for the strike from the 20 yards. However, Donnarumma makes a comfortable save, gathering the ball at the second attempt.
68'
MISS! Suso lifts the ball into the box and Silva takes the cross on his chest and goes for the overhead kick with an audacious effort from 12 yards, only to slice his effort well wide.
67'
F. Kessié enters the game and replaces M. Locatelli.
Kessie replaces Locatelli for the visitors.
66'
K. Galanopoulos enters the game and replaces A. Bakasetas.
Bakasetas makes way for Galanopoulos.
65'
SAVE! Calhanoglu collects in the final third and he goes for the strike from the edge of the box with his right foot, but Anestis beats the ball away with his fists. Milan are beginning to up the ante.
63'
The game has opened up in the second half and both teams have had good opportunities to break the deadlock. It's looks as though one goal will decide the contest.
61'
Lopes surges forward down the left and he fires a low ball across the face of goal, but there's not an Athens player gambling at the back post to convert his cross.
60'
M. Livaja enters the game and replaces L. Christodoulopoulos.
Christodoulopoulos makes way for Livaja.
WIDE! Christodoulopoulos finds space in the final third and he goes for a strike from 25 yards, but he pulls his effort just past the post, with Donnarumma scrambling across to his right.
58'
U. Ćosić gets yellow.
Cosic goes into the book for a late challenge.
57'
OFF THE POST! Milan are denied the lead by the woodwork. Calhanoglu slides the ball into the right inside channel and Montolivo latches on to it before firing at goal. His effort beats the outstretched hand of Anestis, but clatters off the post and bounces clear of danger.
56'
SAVE! Milan keep the pressure on after the corner is cleared away at the near post. Calhanoglu slides a low ball towards goal, but Romagnoli goes not get enough on his strike to beat Anestis.
55'
BLOCK! Montolivo pulls the strings in the final third for Milan. He tees up Suso for a strike, but his effort is blocked and rebounds back to Montolivo. The midfielder goes for a shot himself from 20 yards, only to see his effort deflected wide of the post.
53'
Montolivo feeds the run of Borini down the right flank, but the Italian's low cross into the box is cleared at the near post. His deliveries into the box have not been good enough.
51'
Milan are trying to knock the ball around the pitch, but the home side's defence has been solid and are making life tough for the visitors to advance into the final third.
49'
Athens catch the Milan defence asleep from a throw-in and Simoes raids to the edge of the box. However, he scuffs his effort at goal and Donnarumma gets down to make a comfortable save.
47'
WIDE! Christodoulopoulos lifts the corner in from the left flank and Vranjes rises to head the ball at goal, only for the defender to head narrowly past the post.
46'
Suso enters the game and replaces P. Cutrone.
We're back underway in Athens.
Substitution Patrick Cutrone Jesús Joaquín Fernández Sáez de la Torre
Lopes raids down the left and he drives the ball low, but Romagnoli deflects the ball out for a corner.
45' +1
The referee ends the first half.
WIDE! Galo collects a short corner and he cuts in on his left foot to strike at goal from the edge of the box. However, his shot drifts just wide of the target.
45'
There will be one minute of added time.
Montolivo gets back to help out his side defensively once again, making an important block to deny Christodoulopoulos.
44'
OVER! Bonucci collects in an advanced position and goes for the strike from 35 yards, but he blazes his strike well over the bar.
43'
Milan have shown nothing in the final third in the first period. They're short on confidence and rhythm in their passing game, which has limited their progress moving forward.
41'
M. Locatelli gets yellow.
Locatelli chops down Bakasetas on the counter and goes into the book.
40'
Calhanoglu loses out in his battle with Johansson, much to the frustration of his manager on the sideline as he gives away a cheap free-kick.
39'
Galo moves down the right flank towards the byline and he fires a low ball into the box. Montolivo gets back into the centre of his defence to clear the danger ahead of Bakasetas.
37'
Christodoulopoulos has space to raid into down the right, only to cut back on to his right foot and send a poor cross-field pass for Simoes that is cut out by Rodriguez.
35'
Montolivo attempts to latch on to the ball over the top from Rodriguez, but the ball bounces hard off the pitch and goes out for a goal-kick.
33'
Borini churns his way through two challenges down the right flank, but his delivery into the box is poor as Cosic clears the ball away with ease.
32'
Athens waste the opening as Simoes fails to control the ball in the box following a short pass and the Milan defence clears the danger.
31'
Simoes coasts past the challenge of Calhanoglu, but then gets brought down by Romagnoli in a decent area for the home side to attack.
30'
Bakasetas almost breaks into the box following a poor header from Romagnoli, but Donnarumma races off his line to gather ahead of the forward.
29'
Bakakis fails to clear his lines as he heads the ball straight into the path of Silva, but the defender is bailed out as the striker handles the ball in the area before he can shoot.
27'
Calhanoglu surges into the final third and has the space to shoot. However, he goes for the offload instead and his pass to Cutrone is cut out by Vranjes, quelling the attack.
25'
Calhanoglu swings the ball into the box, but it's gathered with ease by Anestis as he comes off his line to claim unopposed.
24'
Borini gets caught late by Lopes down the right flank and he wins a free-kick for his team, giving them an opportunity to test Anestis.
22'
Montella will be concerned by his side's start to the game. Milan have allowed the home side to get on the front foot and have not managed to put the Athens backline under pressure.
20'
Athens cannot produce a quality delivery from the set-piece as Johansson's cross is cleared by the Rossoneri quite comfortably.
19'
BLOCK! Christodoulopoulos strikes the ball at goal, but the ball deflects off the head of Borini and heads wide for a corner. Solid defending from the wing-back.
18'
M. Musacchio gets yellow.
Musacchio goes into the book for his foul on Christodoulopoulos.
17'
Christodoulopoulos wins the ball in the middle of the park and drives towards the edge of the box. He weaves past Musacchio, but gets brought down by the defender as he tries to progress further. Athens have a free-kick in a very dangerous position.
14'
SAVE! Borini's mistake in the Athens half puts the visitors under pressure. Lopes and Araujo break down the left flank, with the winger teeing up the former for the strike. However, his effort is well saved by the legs of Donnarumma.
13'
WIDE! Lopes collects from the free-kick and swings the ball into the box. His cross is cleared as far as Galo 25 yards from goal, but he volleys his effort just wide of the post. A good effort from distance.
11'
Montolivo goes in hard on Bakasetas and gives away a free-kick inside the Milan half. Fortunately for the Italian he is not booked by the referee.
9'
The home team are trying to force the issue and have been combative in the middle of the park, but have lacked penetration in their play in the final third.
7'
Bakasetas tries to turn on the edge of the box, but Bonucci and Musacchio are there to win back possession for the visitors before he can threaten.
5'
It's a slow start to the contest as neither side has been able to get their foot on the ball for a period of time to put their opponent under pressure.
3'
Borini raids down the right flank and sends in a low cross into the box, but Cosic is there at the near post to clear the danger.
1'
We're underway in Athens.
Vincenzo Montella is under severe pressure in his position as Milan boss due to his side's poor start to the season. The Rossoneri lost 2-0 at the weekend at home to Juventus, highlighting the gap in quality between the two teams in Serie A. Milan can secure their place in the next round of the Europa League with a win this evening, but will need to improve from their last display against the Green outfit.
AEK Athens are in a strong position in Group D, having held Milan to a goalless draw at the San Siro last time out. Manolo Jimenez's men are unbeaten in their three matches thus far, defeating Rijeka in the process. A victory for the Greek outfit this evening would put them on the brink of qualification for the next stage of the competition.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Europa League clash between AEK Athens and AC Milan.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
AC MILAN (3-4-3): Donnarumma; Musacchio, Bonucci, Romagnoli; Borini, Locatelli, Montolivo, Rodriguez; Cutrone, Calhanoglu, Silva.
AC Milan subs: Mauri, Kalinic, Suso, Zapata, Abate, Storari, Kessie.
AEK Athens have made four changes from their win over Panionios last week. Jakob Johansson, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Anastasios Bakasetas and Michalis Bakakis all come into the side this evening.
Montella has made six changes to their side from their 2-0 defeat to Juventus. Leonardo Bonucci, Mateo Musacchio, Manuel Locatelli, Patrick Cutrone, Andre Silva and Riccardo Montolivo all get the nod to start for the Rossoneri.
The players are out on the pitch, so we should be underway shortly.
HALF-TIME: AEK ATHENS 0-0 MILAN
The players are back out for the second half, so we should be underway shortly.
It's goalless at the break between AEK Athens and Milan and it has been a game of few chances. The home side have shown more intent, but the closest they have come is from Rodrigo Galo's strike from distance. Vincenzo Montella's men have offered nothing in the final third and he will be desperate to get a response from his team at the break to ease the pressure.
FULL-TIME: AEK ATHENS 0-0 AC MILAN
The match ends in a goalless draw as neither side could muster a breakthrough in the 90 minutes. It's the same outcome as the clash between the sides at the San Siro and does neither team any favours in their bid to reach the next phase of the Europa League. AC Milan came closest to a winner as Riccardo Montolivo was denied from the post. AEK Athens produced half-chances, but lacked a meaningful threat in the final third.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
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