The first half of the match between Bayer Leverkusen and Milan ended 0-0match valid for the second day of the ‘championship phase’ of the 2024/25 Champions League. The result so far has been a good one for Fonseca’s team because in the first half only the hosts were seen on the pitch, imprecise but also unlucky.
Compared to the last match against Lecce, the Portuguese manager changed only one performer: Loftus-Cheek in place of a Morata who was not at 100%. But the Spaniard’s absence is taking its toll so far. Milan are never dangerous while on the other side the German champions have built chances in series. The first three minutes could be enough to explain the match, with Maignan first involved with a low catch on Boniface’s shot and then called into question by a header from Hincapiè.
Milan suffered especially in the external lanes and almost never kicked on goal. Grimaldo on the one hand and Frimpong on the other know how to make the difference in one-on-one situations and on two occasions, after a shot from the Spaniard, the former Celtic player was not precise on the subsequent tap-in. But Frimpong in the 21st minute was also the protagonist of the action of the Bayer goal which was then canceled due to his offside position: on this occasion, Boniface had been very good in moving behind Tomori and beating Maignan.
At the restart, Milan demonstrated that they could hurt Bayer’s defense but so far, apart from a few flashes from Leao, little or nothing has been seen. He showed imprecision and little malice. The only shot from Fonseca’s team in the first half came in the 39th, a shot by Pulisic from the edge of the area that ended comfortably in the arms of Hradecky.
CLICK HERE for the live text of Bayer Leverkusen-Milan.