Bayer Leverkusen continued their fine beginning of the Champions League campaign as the second-half strike by Victor Boniface sealed a 1-0 win over AC Milan. Coming into this tie after the emphatic victory against Feyenoord in the opening stage of the group, Bayer Leverkusen kept the winning momentum going as they left AC Milan scrambling for an opening mark. A win that comfortably sat the Germans atop their group, with the Italian giants yet to win a single point in this year’s competition.
The Dream Start for Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen seems to have started well in the Champions League, for within two successive matches, they have won. They opened with a clinical 4-0 win against Feyenoord. The solidity of Bayer Leverkusen’s form was extended into their home clash with AC Milan, for most of this match, in particular the first half, they were in front. This was largely because of dominant possession and full-on attacking pressure since the kickoff that kept them at bay and gave umpteen chances to surge ahead.
While Bayer Leverkusen had several openings in the first half, AC Milan’s keeper Mike Maignan was equal to most of those, also coming up with a big save from a close-range header by Piero Hincapié. Still, the hosts would not be balked for much longer. Victor Boniface punished a rebound in the 51st minute, therefore giving the hosts a well-deserved lead.
Boniface Shines as Bayer Leverkusen Records Slender Win
At least in Victor Boniface, Bayer Leverkusen had a cool head in front of goal – the first to react after keeper Maignan saved Jeremie Frimpong’s initial effort – tapping the loose ball into the net from six yards. Fair play, that was a good goal for them to win the game, underlining the increasing influence in this Leverkusen attack.
After the game, Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso lauded his team’s character: “We showed spirit and character, these three points are very good.” Alonso admitted that his team was exhausted following the last match with Bayern Munich, but still, he continued with the same bunch of players. Boniface sealed it with that goal as Leverkusen took all points from the encounter to keep their perfect campaign in the Champions League intact.
AC Milan’s Problems and Missed Opportunities
While Bayer Leverkusen had the better part of the time, AC Milan came alive in the second half, particularly after going a goal behind. AC Milan’s manager Paulo Fonseca introduced some vital changes, including throwing Álvaro Morata into the mix, hoping the match would take a different turn. Milan almost pulled one back as Theo Hernández’s deflected effort hit the crossbar, while Morata was narrowly off-target from the rebound.
Still, AC Milan could not score this goal because of some good defending by Bayer Leverkusen and, importantly, because of a super save by the keeper at the last minute- Lukas Hradecky. AC Milan was also furious in a late challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek that they believe was a penalty. “For me, it’s a penalty. but I don’t like to talk about the referee,” fumed Fonseca. AC Milan didn’t get the finish they wanted when it came to the chances on goal in the latter stages too, and the Italians have zero points through two group-stage matches.
Final Thoughts
Bayer Leverkusen’s 1-0 defeat of AC Milan finally cements their status as serious contenders in their Champions League group, with the German side laying a solid foundation to its campaign with two wins from two games as AC Milan fights their way out of a poor start to the campaign. A clinical finish from Victor Boniface and Bayer Leverkusen’s disciplinary display shows how much this side can go into this season’s competition. While Bayer Leverkusen continued to impress, only the next games will tell how far this well-stacked squad can go.
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