Result AC MILAN 1 – 0 GIRONA, Wednesday 22 January 2025, UEFA Champions League, Matchday 7
By Anna Italia
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42% Ball Possession AC MILAN and 58% Ball Possession GIRONA
AC MILAN 1 – 0 GIRONA 
12′ Rafael Leão
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🏆👉 AC Milan won the UEFA Champions League match against Girona on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the renowned San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. . Milan grabs three vital points, inching closer to a direct qualification for the round of 16. The Rossoneri break the deadlock in the first half with a goal from Leao, and Maignan plays a crucial role with several important saves. In the second half, Conceicao’s squad focuses on preserving their lead, only facing a moment of danger when Gil’s impressive goal is disallowed for offside. Girona is eliminated, leaving Milan on the brink of qualification.
AC Milan opened the scoring in the 37th minute when Rafael Leão found the back of the net with a powerful left-footed shot into the top left corner. Ismaël Bennacer provided the assist. Bennacer made a crucial recovery, setting up Leão, who was unmarked on the left. The Portuguese forward then charged forward and fired a shot past Gazzaniga, hitting just under the crossbar!
🔴⚫️ AC Milan 1 – 0 Girona, 37th minute, ⚽️ goal by Rafael Leão for @acmilan with a left footed shot to the top left corner. The assist is by Ismaël Bennacer. https://t.co/SFqHGrowiR
— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) January 22, 2025
Rafa Leão ROOFS IT 🚀 pic.twitter.com/6WsOnYDX89
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 22, 2025
3 – Before Rafael Leão, the last #ACMilan player to score in three successive #UCL matches was Zlatan Ibrahimovic: five in a row, between 2011 and 2012. Thread.#MilanGirona
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 22, 2025
With a heart full of pride, Rafael Leão proudly wears the AC Milan shirt! https://t.co/gvd8zzyPmt
— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) January 22, 2025
Stats before the game
Milan has encountered 11 different Spanish teams in European competitions to date, but this will mark their first clash with Girona. Conversely, Girona has yet to face any Italian side in these tournaments. Recently, Milan has triumphed in their last two matches against Spanish teams, with the most recent victory being a 3-1 win away at Real Madrid during matchday four of this tournament.
Interestingly, the Rossoneri have never achieved three straight wins against Spanish opponents in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. Furthermore, Milan has secured victories in their last four UEFA Champions League matches. In the two previous seasons where the Rossoneri achieved more than five consecutive wins, they advanced to the final (six in a row in 1992-93 and five in 2004-05), although they fell short in both title matches.
Girona has faced a tough start in the UEFA Champions League, losing their first three away matches without finding the back of the net. Historically, the only team to suffer a similar fate by losing their first four games without scoring was Rapid Vienna from 1996 to 2005. This season, Girona has managed to win just one out of six matches in the tournament, with five losses.
The only Spanish side to have lost six games in a single season was Villarreal back in 2011-12. This upcoming match will mark Sérgio Conceição’s debut as Milan’s coach in the UEFA Champions League. The Portuguese manager has a solid record, winning eight of his last ten group stage matches (with two losses), but it’s worth noting that none of Milan’s last three coaches have won their first UCL match with the team, with Massimiliano Allegri being the last to achieve this in the 2010-11 season against Auxerre.
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Click the video to watch AC Milan 1 – 0 Girona highlights on Wednesday 22 January 2025
(Spanish language)
San Siro Stadium is ready for AC Milan vs Girona
The ping of the turnstiles at San Siro, no greater sound 🔔🎟️#MilanGirona #UCL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/RbNr05Bmeu
— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 22, 2025
AC Milan dressing room
Set-up sorted 🫶#MilanGirona #UCL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/8OANE451t0
— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 22, 2025
👉🏆 First half is over. 🔴⚫️ AC Milan 1 – 0 Girona
⚽️ Goals: 37′ Rafael Leão (M)
🟨 Yellow Cards: 41′ Davide Calabria (M)
✅ Shots on goal: Milan 4, Girona 3
✅ Corners: Milan 5, Girona 2
✅ Saves: Milan 3, Girona 3✍️ Ball Possession: 43% @acmilan and 57% @GironaFC… https://t.co/HxpghmsgcA
— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) January 22, 2025
A big display at the back 👏#MilanGirona #UCL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/hgZQYvHU6M
— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 22, 2025
👉🏆 Result 🔴⚫️ AC Milan 1 – 0 Girona
⚽️ Goals: 37′ Rafael Leão (M)
🟨 Yellow Cards: 41′ Davide Calabria (M), 59′ Bryan Gil (G), 80′ Theo Hernández (M), 82′ Iván Martín (G)
✅ Shots on goal: Milan 5, Girona 3
✅ Corners: Milan 6, Girona 3
✅ Saves: Milan 3, Girona 4— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) January 22, 2025
2024 – 2025 UEFA Champions League
League Phase
Matchday 7
AC Milan 1 – 0 Girona
Wednesday 22 January 2025
San Siro Stadium
Milan, Italy
21:00
⚽️ Goals: 12′ Rafael Leão (M)
🟨 Booked: 41′ Davide Calabria (M), 59′ Bryan Gil (G), 80′ Theo Hernández (M), 82′ Iván Martín (G)
✅ Official lineups – formations – tabellino:
🔴⚫️ Lineup AC MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; E. Royal, Gabbia, Pavlović, Hernández; Bennacer, Fofana; Musah, Reijnders, Leão; Morata.
Subs.: Sportiello, Torriani; Calabria, Bartesaghi, Terracciano; Pulisic, Zeroli; Abraham, Camarda, Okafor.
Coach: Conceição.
Lineup GIRONA (4-3-2-1): Gazzaniga; Francés, D. López, Krejčí, Blind; Herrera, Romeu, Van de Beek; Tsygankov, Gil; Ruiz.
Subs.: P. López; Arnau, Artero, Asprilla, Danjuma, Juanpe, Martín, Portu, Selvi, Solís, Stuani.
Coach: Michel.
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