AC Milan Suffer 2-1 Defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in Champions League

Dinamo Zagreb secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over AC Milan in the Champions League, but ultimately fell short of securing a play-off spot. Get the latest UCL updates, match highlights, and results.

Dinamo Zagreb pulled off a stunning upset, defeating AC Milan 2-1 and denying the Rossoneri a seventh consecutive UEFA Champions League victory. Despite the win, Zagreb fell short of securing a spot in the play-off knockout round, with Club Brugge ultimately claiming the spot.

AC Milan's impressive Champions League form, which had seen them win six successive matches, was undone by a shock Zagreb goal in the 19th minute. Martin Baturina capitalized on Matteo Gabbia's inexplicable mistake, dispossessing the defender and racing through to score past Mike Maignan.

The goal was a poignant moment for Dinamo Zagreb manager Fabio Cannavaro, a defensive legend during his playing career. Cannavaro, who played for AC Milan's arch-rivals Inter, would have been disappointed by the defensive error that led to the goal, highlighting the irony of the situation.

AC Milan's woes deepened in the 38th minute when Yunus Musah received a second yellow card for pulling back Luka Stojkovic just outside the 18-yard box. The sending-off left Milan with a mountain to climb, and despite their efforts, they were unable to overcome the deficit.

Yunus Musah's red card left the American midfielder incensed, and he initially refused to leave the pitch. Upon review, it appeared that his anger was justified, as both bookings were for minimal contact. The decision had a significant impact on the match, leaving AC Milan with a numerical disadvantage.

GNK Dinamo end the league phase with a win 👊#UCL pic.twitter.com/0A9tH2msJv

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 29, 2025

Dinamo Zagreb was denied a second goal when VAR intervened, calling back a simple tap-in by Luka Stojković due to a handball by the Croatian midfielder. This reprieve gave AC Milan a lifeline, and they capitalized on it just three minutes later.

Christian Pulisic scored a crucial equalizer for AC Milan, picking up the ball on the edge of the box and unleashing a shot on the turn that beat Ivan Nevistic. This goal brought Milan back into the match, but they failed to build on the momentum.

The league phase is complete ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/8Ix7MvcqI4

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 29, 2025

Marko Pjaca restored Dinamo Zagreb's lead with an outstanding finish, taking one touch to receive the ball before hitting a pinpoint left-footed shot into the corner of the net. This goal sent the Stadion Maksimir into a frenzy, but ultimately, it was not enough to secure a play-off spot.

Despite the thrilling victory, Dinamo Zagreb's failure to secure a play-off spot will be a bitter pill to swallow. The 9-2 loss to Bayern Munich earlier in the campaign proved to be a costly setback. For AC Milan, manager Sergio Conceicao will be disappointed to drop out of the top eight, but given their poor start to the campaign, the Italians can take heart from their progress nonetheless.