Atletico Madrid-Milan: 0-1 - Champions 2021/2022. Final result and commentary from the game

Where the match is played:
Stadium: Wanda Metropolitano
City: Madrid
Capacity for: 67703 people20:29

Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League clash between Atletico Madrid and Milan at the Wanda Metropolitano.20:29

Atletico Madrid need to win tonight to haul themselves into the top two of Group B after losing back-to-back matches to Liverpool. Diego Simeone's men are sitting on four points in third place behind Porto, who play the Reds tonight. Los Rojiblancos will be aiming to capitalise on a potential Porto defeat to leapfrog the Portuguese outfit with one group game remaining. A late goal from Felipe secured a win for Atletico last time out against Osasuna, but Simeone knows that his team have to be better.20:33

Milan are also in dire need of a win tonight after taking only one point from their opening four Group B matches. They claimed their only point last time out against Porto after suffering excruciating defeats at the hands of Atletico and Liverpool in their previous outings. Stefano Pioli's men suffered a 4-3 defeat in Serie A in their last outing against Fiorentina at the weekend. The Rossoneri need a dramatic improvement to avoid crashing out of the Champions League with one game to spare.20:36

ATLETICO (3-4-3): Jan Oblak; Stefan Savic, Jose Gimenez, Mario Hermoso; Marcos Llorente, Rodrigo De Paul, Koke, Yannick Carrasco; Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar.20:37

ATLETICO SUBS: Benjamin Lecomte, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Angel Correa, Renan Lodi, Hector Herrera, Matheus Cunha, Sime Vrsaljko, Fran Gonzalez.20:38

MILAN (4-2-3-1): Ciprian Tatarusanu; Pierre Kalulu, Simon Kjaer, Alessio Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Franck Kessie, Sandro Tonali; Alexis Saelemaekers, Rade Krunic, Brahim Diaz; Olivier Giroud.20:40

MILAN SUBS: Ismael Bennacer, Fode Ballo-Toure, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rafael Leao, Alessandro Florenzi, Daniel Maldini, Junior Messias, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Matteo Gabbia, Sebastiano Desplanches, Antonio Mirante.20:42

Atletico have made three changes to their side from their win over Osasuna last time out. Gimenez, De Paul and Suarez all come into the fold in place of Correa, Vrsaljko and Felipe, with the latter missing out on the squad tonight. Suarez, Lemar and Griezmann are expected to form a three-man attack.20:48

Milan have made three changes to their side from their defeat to Fiorentina in their last outing. Ibrahimovic makes way in the final third despite scoring twice in the loss for Giroud, while Leao also drops to the bench as Krunic earns the start. Gabbia drops out of the back four as Romagnoli returns to action in the defence.20:50

Atletico Madrid have a 100% record against AC Milan in European competitions, winning all three of their meetings, which have all been in the Champions League – 1-0 away and 4-1 at home in 2013-14, and 2-1 away from home earlier this season.20:50

We're under way at the Wanda Metropolitano.21:01

Hernandez makes a break forward for the visitors down the left flank and is brought down by Koke. The full-back remains down and requires treatment.21:02

Saelemaekers comes in late on Carrasco and gives away a free-kick in the Atletico half. Both sides have put in strong challenges in the opening two minutes.21:03

CHANCE! Carrasco breaks down the left flank and steers a low cross into the box. De Paul meets it with a strike on his right foot, but he places his effort wide of the left post. Atletico should be ahead.21:03

Carrasco may have been offside in the build-up anyway, which perhaps spares the blushes of De Paul.21:06

WIDE! Diaz weaves his way through the Atletico defence on the edge of the box before he pull the trigger on a right-footed strike that he sends wide of the left post.21:07

Diaz hangs a cross into the box from the left flank that travels dangerously towards the back post. Oblak stretches, but can only watch as the ball whistles past the post. A close call for Atletico.21:10

Milan are enjoying the better of possession at the moment. Atletico have yet to get their foot on the ball for an extended period.21:12

Savic collides with Hernandez in the Atletico box and goes down in pain, but the defender soon gets to his feet. 21:15

The Rossoneri probe in the final third, but Tonali's floated ball over the top is cut out by Gimenez. Atletico need to retain possession.21:15

Diaz makes a break down the right flank and has Giroud in support in the box. The midfielder attempts to find his team-mate in the middle, only to see his offload cut out by Savic, who makes a vital interception.21:19

OVER! De Paul latches on to a short pass from Koke and crashes a strike towards the Milan goal from 25 yards, only to lift his effort over the bar.21:20

Kalulu gets forward from the back to break into the box. He attacks a cross from Kessie from the left flank, but guides a tame header into the hands of Oblak.21:21

CHANCE! Llorente surges down the right flank and delivers a dangerous cutback into the box. Griezmann has the chance to shoot first time, but he miskicks his effort before Suarez is crowded out in the box.21:22

De Paul looks to the referee for a penalty after going down under pressure from Hernandez, but the official waves away his appeal.21:24

Atletico have not been at the peak of their powers this evening. The home side have not been allowed to hit their stride in possession. In such an important game Simeone will be concerned.21:28

Giroud goes into the book for catching Koke in the face with a stray arm as he tries to fend off the Atletico skipper.21:27

De Paul tries to thread the needle to release Lemar through the middle of the Milan defence, but he overhits his pass into the hands of Tatarusanu.21:29

Diaz continues to look bright for the visitors, but he fails to connect with Giroud in the box with an arcing delivery.21:31

Diaz makes another break forward for Milan and tries to release Giroud behind the Atletico defence. However, he and the Frenchman are not on the same page and his throughball travels out for a goal-kick.21:31

WIDE! Kalulu angles a cross into the box that finds Hernandez in acres of space in the left-inside channel. He shoots first-time on the half-volley, but he can only drill his attempt wide of the left post.21:34

De Paul tries to get the better of Kessie down the right flank, but the Milan midfielder sticks to his task and forces a goal-kick as the Argentine carries the ball out.21:36

Saelemaekers tries to weave his way through the Atletico defence, but he cannot carve out room for a strike. Krunic tries to drill an effort through a crowd, only to see his effort repelled.21:39

Giroud walks a fine line as catches Gimenez on the boot with a late challenge, but it is only a free-kick for the home side.21:40

Milan have played well in the contest without creating a clear-cut opening. Pioli will be satisfied, although he knows that a victory is vital for his team tonight.21:43

Atletico win a corner down the right flank that hands Carrasco a chance to whip a cross into the box, but he sends his delivery straight down the throat of Tatarusanu.21:44

Carrasco has a surge down the left flank before cutting inside on his right foot. He tries to lift a cross to the back post for Suarez, but Romagnoli sweeps it away from danger.21:44

There will be one minute of added time.21:45

HALF-TIME: ATLETICO MADRID 0-0 MILAN21:46

It is goalless at the break between Atletico Madrid and Milan in their Champions League clash. The visitors have been the better team, but have sruggled for a clinical edge in the final third. Brahim Diaz and Theo Hernandez both had half-chances, but failed to hit the target. At the other end, Atletico have been disappointing, failing to threaten Ciprian Tatarusanu's goal in a vital game for Los Rojiblancos.21:48

Diego Simeone will be very disappointed with his side's first-half display. The were off the pace and struggled to maintain possession. Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann were anonymous in the final third. That will need to change if the hosts are to force a victory this evening.22:02

We're back under way at the Wanda Metropolitano.22:03

CHANCE! Saelemaekers breaks into the Atletico box and shoots low and hard at goal, only to be denied by a good save from Oblak.22:09

SAVE! Lemar raids down the left flank and cuts inside on his right foot to fire at goal, but he sends his attempt straight at Tatarusanu.22:06

Suarez sends Griezmann down the right flank and he surges past Romagnoli. The Frenchman sends a cutback into the middle for Carrasco, but Kjaer gets across to make the intervention clearing the ball off the Belgian for a goal-kick.22:08

Suarez collects in the left-inside channel and flicks a cross into the middle with the outside of his right foot. Hernandez rises at the back post to nod it away from the lurking presence of Griezmann.22:11

UPDATE: Thiago has put Liverpool ahead against Porto in the other Group B match, which will be music to the ears of Simeone.22:12

Giroud gets a knock to the back from Gimenez and lands awkwardly. However, the offside flag is up against the forward, which adds insult to injury.22:13

Giroud collects an offload from Diaz and lines up a drive at goal, only to blaze his effort well over the bar.22:15

Milan continue to press as Kessie works the ball to Giroud. The Frenchman offloads to Diaz, who attempts to fire at goal but his effort is charged down on the edge of the box.22:18

Llorente pulls back Hernandez down the Milan left flank and goes into the book.22:18

CHANCE! Hernandez whips a free-kick in from the left flank with pace. Kjaer attacks the cross, but he gets too much on his effort and guides his header over the bar.22:20

Llorente has to race back to cover a long ball forward from the visitors. He gets there just ahead of Hernandez to clear, although he draws a foul any way from the Frenchman.22:22

Lemar is withdrawn after an uneventful game and is replaced by Correa.22:22

Hermoso leaves the field for the hosts and is replaced by Lodi.22:22

Tonali makes way from the Milan midfield and is replaced by Bakayoko.22:23

Messias enters the action to replace Krunic in the final third for the visitors.22:23

Florenzi comes on at the back for Milan to replace Kalulu at right-back.22:23

Giroud pulls up with a hamstring injury and has to leave the field. Ibrahimovic enters the frey to replace the Frenchman.22:24

Pioli has made his moves. Milan have 23 minutes to keep their Champions League hopes alive.22:24

Bakayoko catches Koke with a high boot and goes into the book after two minutes on the pitch.22:28

There has been no cutting edge from either team in the second half. Milan need to force the issue.22:29

BLOCK! Ibrahimovic sends Messias down the left-inside channel and he cuts the ball back into the middle. Bakayoko attacks the cross, but he sees his low drive blocked by Savic. The midfielder should have done better there.22:30

SAVE! Griezmann collects down the right-inside channel and he lifts a cross back to De Paul on the edge of the box. The Argentine fires at goal, but he can only send his effort straight at Tatarusanu.22:33

UPDATE: Mohamed Salah has doubled Liverpool's advantage against Porto. As it stands, Atletico have moved above Porto on goal difference in Group B heading into their showdown in the final round of matches.22:34

OVER! Florenzi is afforded space in the final third and he goes for a blast, only to lift his effort over the bar.22:35

Suarez is withdrawn for the home side after a quiet game. Cunha replaces the forward.22:35

Vrsaljko makes his way on to the pitch to replace De Paul for the hosts.22:35

Bennacer replaces Diaz for the final 12 minutes of the game.22:37

Pioli has used all his options from the bench. His team now need to respond with one last great effort in the final 11 minutes.22:38

OVER! Florenzi whips a dangerous cross into the box from the right flank that Bakayoko attacks at the back post, only to glance his effort over the bar.22:38

Griezmann is withdrawn for Kondogbia as Simeone puts another defensive-minded player into the action.22:39

Milan launch a series of crosses into the Atletico box, but the home side hold firm amid the threat.22:41

Carrasco sends Lodi down the left flank and he tries to steer a cross into the path of Correa, but Romagnoli makes a vital interception.22:43

OFFSIDE! Milan cut open the home side at the back as Bennacer and Messias combine to release Ibrahimovic in the left-inside channel. He shoots with power on his left foot, but Oblak makes a brilliant reaction stop. The offside flag goes up late, but the Atletico keeper did not know that.22:44

Kessie makes a fine run down the left flank before delivering a precise cross for Messias to score.22:46

The Milan goal has completely changed the complex of Group B. They now join Atletico on four points, with Porto moving back ahead of the Spanish side back into second place. 22:47

Messias has notched a strike for the Rossoneri on his Champions League debut.23:00

WHAT A SAVE! Oblak keeps Atletico hopes alive with a sharp reaction stop to deny Bennacer, whose left-footed curler looked destined for the net. Ibrahimovic's effort on the rebound was saved by the Atletico keeper, although the forward was offside once again.22:49

There will be four minutes of added time.22:50

WHAT A MISS! CUNHA HAS TO SCORE! The Brazilian misses a glorious opening to convert from close range to notch an equaliser. Llorente bursts down the right flank and fires a low cross towards the near post. Cunha makes the run and gets there, only to steer his effort wide of the right post.22:50

Milan are attempting to take time off the clock. Ibrahimovic is doing his utmost to hold the ball under pressure from the hosts.22:51

Hernandez kicks the ball away and is booked for timewasting.22:51

Atletico have one last chance from a free-kick just inside the Milan half.22:52

Gimenez win the initial header from the free-kick before Savic knocks the ball down towards Correa, who goes down under pressure. However, the referee is not convinced by his appeal for a penalty.23:01

FULL-TIME: ATLETICO MADRID 0-1 MILAN22:53

Milan keep their Champions League hopes alive with a huge 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. The Rossoneri were minutes away from heading out of European competitions this term before Junior Messias planted a close-range header past Jan Oblak to fire them ahead. Matheus Cunha should have responded for Atletico in stoppage time, but he fired wide of the post to leave their last-16 hopes in the balance heading into the final round of fixtures. Despite losing 2-0 to Liverpool, Porto sit in second place ahead of their contest against Atletico in the last round of games. All three clubs still have the opportunity to join Liverpool in the round of 16. It should be a thrilling last week in Group B.22:58

Atletico return to LaLiga action on Sunday on the road against Cadiz. Milan will hope to take momentum into their next Serie A contest at home to Sassuolo on the same day.22:58

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.22:59