AC Milan saw their Champions League campaign cut short after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Feyenoord, as a dramatic second leg at San Siro ended 1-1.
A dream start from Santiago Gimenez was overshadowed by Theo Hernandez’s controversial red card for simulation, leaving the Rossoneri with an uphill battle.
Having lost the first leg 1-0 due to Mike Maignan’s costly mistake that allowed Igor Paixao’s effort to slip past him, Milan boss Sergio Conceicao stuck with the ‘Fab Four’ in attack.
This time, he made an even bolder move, adding Yunus Musah, who was suspended in the first leg, at the expense of Youssouf Fofana.
However, injuries ruled out Emerson Royal, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Alessandro Florenzi, while Alex Jimenez and Luka Jovic were unavailable due to cup restrictions.
Feyenoord also faced a selection crisis, missing key players such as Quinten Timber, Ayase Ueda, Gernot Trauner, In-beom Hwang, Ramiz Zerrouki, Bart Nieuwkoop, Jordan Lotomba, Justin Bijlow, and Chris-Kevin Nadje.
Their lineup included 18-year-old Zepiqueno Redmond, making his Champions League debut.
A Flying Start for Milan
Milan couldn’t have asked for a better opening, as within the first minute, Malick Thiaw met a Christian Pulisic delivery from Theo Hernandez’s short corner and nodded it back across goal.
Santiago Gimenez was perfectly positioned to head home from close range. Out of respect for his former club, the Mexican forward refrained from celebrating, raising his hands in acknowledgment.
Joao Felix looked lively, breaking free on a well-timed pass from Gimenez but firing just over the bar. Moments later, he forced a save from the goalkeeper, with Theo Hernandez smashing the rebound onto the post.
Milan continued to push, but Rafael Leao’s heavy first touch squandered a golden opportunity, while David Hancko made a crucial block to deny another Gimenez attempt from close range.
Turning Point: Theo’s Controversial Red
Early in the second half, Milan had back-to-back chances, with Hancko making another desperate block to deny Felix after a Theo Hernandez pull-back. Kyle Walker then tested the goalkeeper with an angled drive.
However, the match took a dramatic turn when Theo Hernandez latched onto a Leao pass and went to ground as Givairo Read lunged in with an outstretched leg.
The referee saw no contact and, deeming it a dive, showed Hernandez a second yellow card—just minutes after he was booked for an earlier foul on Anis Hadj Moussa.
With Milan down to ten men, Feyenoord seized control. Antoni Milambo came close, nodding just over the bar, while Conceicao shuffled his tactics, bringing on Fofana and shifting Felix into a False 9 role.
Feyenoord Seal Their Progress
The Dutch giants delivered the decisive blow when substitute Julian Carranza met Hugo Bueno’s cross with a towering header, leaving the Milan defense helpless as the ball flew in from six yards.
Milan fought desperately in the final moments. Thiaw directed a Joao Felix free kick straight at the goalkeeper, and with all substitutions used up, Kyle Walker was forced to play the last six minutes despite struggling with an adductor issue.
Even in stoppage time, the Rossoneri pushed for a late miracle, but Thiaw’s double attempt from a Joao Felix free kick was blocked, sealing Milan’s fate and confirming Feyenoord’s place in the next round.
