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As reflected by the Borussia Dortmund vs AC Milan player ratings we have this evening, these teams were evenly matched.
However, this 0-0 stalemate, which was played out at a packed Signal-Iduna Park in matchday two of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage, didn’t lack a number of close chances either way.
Borussia Dortmund vs AC Milan: Timeline
Contents
27′ – Donyell Malen shoots just wide after evading his defender.
31′ – Niclas Fullkrug’s shot is parried away by Mike Maignan.
36′ – Julian Brandt’s bicycle kick loops over after a lovely Emre Can cross.
43′ – Rami Bensebaini’s half-volley is saved by Maignan.
45′ – Theo Hernandez shoots over after some lovely Rafael Leao play.
54′ – Christian Pulisic’s shot saved by Gregor Kobel after intricate Leao pass.
74′ – Nico Schlotterbeck’s effort from outside the box is comfortably saved.
82′ – Hernandez heads over from a Leao cross.
85′ – Samuel Chukwueze sees his shot saved from close range.
89′ – Felix Nmecha curls just wide.
The Big Stat
Pulisic are you taking the mick?
Pulisic has not managed a successful take-on or duel won in the UCL yet. He has attempted four take-ons and contested eight duels.
🇺🇸 Christian Pulisic has not managed to register a single successful take-on or successful duel won in the first two UEFA Champions League this season.
vs Dortmund
– 0/2 succ. take-ons
– 0/5 duels wonvs Newcastle
– 0/2 succ. take-ons
– 0/3 duels won #ACM #UCL pic.twitter.com/3uyIEr0J8y— Mozo Football (@MozoFootball) October 4, 2023
Borussia Dortmund vs AC Milan player ratings: Star Player
Rafael Leao – 7.40
Both sides did not show enough going forward, but Leao was the brightest spark. He completed four successful dribbles, three key passes and two big chances, and was fouled four times. The few times that Milan attacked, the winger was almost always involved.
Borussia Dortmund vs AC Milan player ratings: Dortmund dire in front of goal
Borussia Dortmund player ratings
Gregor Kobel – 7
Produced a couple of important saves.
Julian Ryerson – 7
Did not get forward as much as Bensebaini but a solid performance.
Mats Hummels – 7
An experienced performance from the 34-year-old.
Nico Schlotterbeck – 7
Solid next to Hummels, both took a booking for the team.
Rami Bensebaini – 7
Defended well against Pulisic and Chukwueze in the second half.
Emre Can – 6
Produced a good cross to set up Brandt in the first half, and had a couple of shots on goal in the second.
Salih Ozcan – 6
Did not have much to do defensively.
Julian Brandt – 5
Had one chance in the first half but was not overly involved.
Marco Reus – 5
Hit a free-kick over in the first half but did little of note going forward.
Donyell Malen – 6
Was lively in the first half and shots on goal, but could not hit the target.
Niclas Fullkrug – 5
Had a shot saved in the first half but offered little threat.
Karim Adeyemi (sub) – 5
Did not have the impact he would have liked.
Felix Nmecha (sub) – 6
Was lively when coming on and fired wide late on.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (sub) – 6
Cut inside and fired a shot over, tried to make an instant impact.
Youssoufa Moukoko (sub) – N/A
Not enough time to make an impact.
Milan make defending look easy
AC Milan player ratings
Mike Maignan – 7
Produced saves when called upon and was the busier of the two goalkeepers.
Davide Calabria – 7
The captain organised his defence well and limited Dortmund to half chances.
Fikayo Tomori – 7
The Englishman contributed to a well-earned clean sheet.
Malick Thiaw – 7
Was as solid as his centre-back partner Tomori.
Theo Hernandez – 7
Was a constant threat down the left-hand side and combined well with Leao.
Yunus Musah – 5
Let too much come through the centre of midfield and was booked for his troubled.
Tijani Reijnders – 5
Struggled from the off and was booked in the first half.
Tomasso Pobega – 6
Solid enough before being taken off.
Christian Pulisic – 5
Really struggled against his former club.
Olivier Giroud – 5
Nothing to feed off for the big Frenchman.
Rafael Leao – 7
Undoubtedly Milan’s biggest threat, he was involved in every attacking opportunity.
Yacine Adli (sub) – 6
Had lots of energy when he came on.
Noah Okafor (sub) – 5
Did not have much impact.
Samuel Chukwueze (sub) – 6
Produced a good block preventing Can from scoring, and had a couple of opportunities to score.
Alessandro Florenzi (sub) – 6
Used his experience and helped keep a clean sheet.
The Final Word
The result is not ideal for either side, although Milan will be the happier being away from home. Newcastle United beat PSG 4-1 in tonight’s other match, taking control of the group.
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