F. Borini has scored a goal for AC Milan! Assist by F. Kessié.
FABIO BORINI MAKES IT THREE! The tie is all but wrapped up after Borini seals the contest with a great finish. Kessie’s cross is missed with a back-heel by Andre Silva, but Borini was waiting at the far post to hit home the pass! It is now 3-0 to the away side!
Franck Kessie is awarded an assist on a night in which he kept the Milan midfield together. It was his cross that fell to Borini, allowing the away side to make it 3-0.
90'
Ludogorets have one final chance to reduce the deficit from a free-kick, but Plastun’s header is well wide of Donnarumma’s goal and the danger has passed.
The referee has indicated that there will be an additional three minutes at the end of regular time.
89'
STAT: Ludogorets have only faced one Italian side, bettering Lazio 4-3 on aggregate in this stage of the 2014 edition of the Europa League.
85'
Wanderson flashes a pass across the penalty area but Romagnoli lets the ball roll as there were no Ludogorets players attacking the delivery. Very good awareness by the centre-back but that is poor attacking play by the oncoming support.
84'
Campanharo takes down Suso with a kick to his ankle, which sends the Milan player down in a heap. The free-kick is taken short as the away side wind down the minutes in hopes of maintaining yet another clean sheet.
81'
S. Kovachev enters the game and replaces J. Lukoki.
Ludogorets’ final change of the day is an attacking one, as Dimitrov takes out Jody Lukoki who has been very busy today on the left. His replacement is Svetoslav Kovachev.
80'
Milan are unable to retain possession as Borini plays a blind pass into midfield which is quickly intercepted. The Rossoneri midfield is playing a bit too relaxed, except for Kessie who charges back to win the ball just outside of Donnarumma’s goal.
78'
Gustavo Campanharo enters the game and replaces Marcelinho.
Marcelinho makes way for Gustavo Campanharo in Dimitar Dimitrov’s second substitution of the match. Perhaps the newly introduced player will provide Ludogorets with some life and a threat in front of goal.
75'
F. Borini enters the game and replaces H. Çalhanoğlu.
Gattuso makes Milan’s third and final substitution of the evening replacing one left-sided player for another, as Hakan Calhanoglu makes way for Fabio Borini.
71'
STAT: Milan have never faced Ludogorets before, but have a very good record against Bulgarian sides. The Rossoneri have won seven of 10 matches against Akademik Sofia, CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia.
Minute
Description
68'
Suso gets free on the right-hand side and makes a darting run in behind the full-back, but Moti comes across and shields the ball out of play for Renan to restart.
65'
André Silva enters the game and replaces P. Cutrone.
Immediately after going up two goals, Gennaro Gattuso chooses to remove Patrick Cutrone, replacing him with Andre Silva who is in dire need of competitive minutes. Cutrone, while not incredibly involved today, earned his side two away goals with a headed strike and a penalty shot earned. The young Italian striker has quite the future ahead of him.
64'
Penalty goal scored by R. Rodríguez for AC Milan!
RICARDO MAKES IT TWO! It’s a stuttering run-up from the newly introduced left-back who sends Renan the wrong way before burying a shot in the bottom-right corner. He’s only been on the field for three minutes, but Rodriguez has doubled Milan’s advantage!
63'
PENALTY TO MILAN! Cutrone wins the spot-kick after mis-hitting a shot in the penalty area due to a push from Cosmin Moti. The centre-back immediately regrets his obvious mistake, and Ricardo Rodriguez will step up to strike it.
61'
The switch is not like-for-like, and Davide Calabria instantly switches to his favoured right side, while Rodriguez takes up his position on the left.
60'
R. Rodríguez enters the game and replaces I. Abate.
Gattuso has heeded the warnings and makes a substitution, removing the already cautioned Ignazio Abate and replacing him with Ricardo Rodriguez.
57'
Abate puts in a hard challenge in the penalty area and takes down Misidjan. Fortunately for the right-back, the offside flag was raised prior to the tackle. Had the play stood, it would have been a penalty, and a second yellow for the Milan defender. It has certainly been a game of fine margins, but Milan are evading every potential setback.
54'
CROSSBAR! Ludogorets’ pressure ends with a bit of misfortune as Dyakov beats both Bonaventura and Biglia before taking a fantastic strike which rattles the point of intersection between post and crossbar. Donnarumma is very lucky as he would not have been able to reach the brilliant shot.
51'
Great play by Ludogorets as Marcelino gets on the end of a Wanderson pass and slides to poke the ball past Donnarumma. The Italian goalie anticipates well and gets down to block the tapped shot, maintaining the goal advantage.
49'
Ludogorets are easing their way into the second half, trying to maintain possession and find the cracks in the Milan defence. That late Milan goal in the first period may have affected their confidence, despite the home side’s positive play.
46'
Wanderson enters the game and replaces J. Świerczok.
Dimitar Dimitrov opens the second half with a substitution, removing striker Jakub Swierczok for Wanderson.
45'
P. Cutrone has scored a goal for AC Milan! Assist by H. Çalhanoğlu.
It was Hakan Calhanoglu's accurate cross which allowed Cutrone to break through the Ludogorets defence, and he will be credited with the assist.
PATRICK CUTRONE FINISHES IN TYPICAL FASHION! Calhanoglu passes his corner to Bonaventura who then quickly receives the ball back and fires in a left-footed cross. Cutrone meets the ball sweetly with a backwards header and the attempt at goal thwarts Renan who is completely out of position to deal with the effort. 1-0 Milan!
HALF-TIME: Ludogorets 0 - 1 Milan.
Ludogorets get the second half underway!
44'
Bonaventura gets free on the left and attempts a couple of step-overs before firing at Renan’s goal, but the Milan midfielder will be very disappointed with his effort, which sailed high and wide.
40'
Suso takes the set-piece with his favoured left foot and audaciously attempts to score from an acute position, but the ball flies just over the crossbar.
39'
J. Lukoki gets yellow.
Bonucci finds Abate in space and the right-back quickly tries to put it in the penalty area but the cross is blocked by Lukoki. Originally, the referee gives Milan a corner, but after taking a second, he awards Lukoki a yellow card for a deliberate handball. Calhanoglu and Suso stand over the free-kick.
36'
Bonucci thumps a ball high into the Bulgarian sky and it’s met by Calhanoglu who interchanges well with Cutrone, but the Italian striker’s centring ball is met by nobody in a Milan kit. Milan win back possession in midfield and after moving forward quickly, win a corner kick which does not beat the first man.
Andrianantenaina runs through the back of Biglia and the ensuing free-kick is played into the penalty area where it is repelled and cleared for a Milan throw-in at the halfway line.
33'
Sasha swings in a great cross from the right which forces Donnarumma to rush out of his goal, but the young goalkeeper makes a poor effort at a punch and leaves his net completely open. Swierczok, despite being in a perfect position to hit it home flinched at the chance and the ball rolls harmlessly out for a goal kick.
30'
Abate plays a fantastic pass down the right-hand side to Suso who beats his full-back before losing possession to an incredible sliding challenge from Cosmin Moti. That is one of the few times this game that a Milan player has been able to get in behind the defence, and if they are to score an away goal, they will need to capitalise on those opportunities.
28'
For the second time in a minute, a ball has been played perfectly to Cutrone who is unable to control it with a first touch. In this instance, the ball goes directly to Ludogorets who turn defence into attack and win a corner from Romagnoli. Lukoki’s delivery is poor and Milan once again escape from their mistakes without punishment.
25'
Biglia gives the ball away in midfield which sets Ludogorets away on a counter-attack but the pass from Marcelino to Lukoki is weighted far too heavily and Donnarumma once again deals with the pass with comfort.
22'
Romagnoli earns his side a free-kick in midfield after receiving a slap to the face during an aerial duel. Gattuso will be hoping Milan use this possession to finally trouble Renan in the Ludogorets goal as the manager has been gesticulating wildly on the touchline all match.
20'
Milan win a corner after Bonaventura plays Cutrone in on goal with a delightfully weighted pass. The striker has a quick shot but the effort is blocked wide by a sliding Plastun. Calhanoglu delivers the corner but Renan confidently claims the ball in the air.
18'
Ludogorets have possession in midfield but are being pressed very high by Milan’s midfield who is keeping them penned in their own half. A long pass to Lukoki is fired in an attempt to beat the pressure, but Calabria calmly heads the ball back to Donnarumma.
15'
Milan lose the ball in midfield as Abate fails to read the mind of Biglia as the Argentine urges the right back to move forward to receive the pass which he fails to do. Kessie does not react and Ludogorets take control of possession, only for their counter-attack to end thanks to the referee whistling for offside on Lukoki.
11'
Cicinho gets a header to a long pass played from the midfield but Donnarumma gets down and smothers the centring ball before Swierczok could get on the end of it. Milan have certainly been the more uncomfortable of the two sides after 10 minutes.
10'
Milan once again deal with the initial danger and Biglia wins a free-kick from Dyakov who was deemed to have been holding back the Rossoneri midfielder.
9'
Misidjan once again gets in behind Abate on the right-hand side and Romagnoli comes across to clear the danger and gives Ludogorets a corner which Donnarumma promptly punches away. The ball is recycled and comes back into the Milan penalty area, where it is put out for a second corner in quick succession.
7'
Lukoki takes the free-kick and opts to try and curl the ball into the far post from a very tight angle. It is a fantastic effort, but the shot was always going to be extremely difficult and it ultimately flies harmlessly wide.
5'
I. Abate gets yellow.
Abate puts in a terrible tackle just outside of the penalty area on the right-hand side and catches Misidjan. The Italian right back is given a yellow card for his offence and it provides Ludogorets a chance to score from a set-piece.
3'
Franck Kessie takes a shot from outside of the penalty area after finding some space but the strike goes wide of Renan’s goal.
1'
Milan get the match underway attacking from left to right!
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of the Europa League Round of 32 tie between Ludogorets Razgrad and Milan from the Ludogorets Arena!
Ludogorets come into this crucial European fixture having not played a competitive match since December 14th 2017 when they were knocked out of the Bulgarian Cup by CSKA Sofia. Despite the disappointment, Dimitar Dimitrov’s side can take solace in the fact that his side currently lead the Bulgarian First Professional Football League by one point over the aforementioned CSKA Sofia, having won 11 of their last 13 domestic league contests.
Ludogorets successfully navigated a tricky group which featured Braga, Hoffenheim and Istanbul Basaksehir, finishing in second place behind the Portuguese squad. The home side are currently the fourth lowest scorers remaining in the tournament with seven, but it has been their defensive resiliency that has brought them to the round of 32. With only five goals allowed, the six time Bulgarian champions enter today’s game with a better record at the back than their opponents.
Gennaro Gattuso has done a fantastic job as manager of Milan since taking over from Vincenzo Montella at the end of November. Undefeated in eight consecutive matches in all competitions, the Rossoneri are travelling to Razgrad on the back of a 4-0 thrashing of SPAL at the Stadio Paolo. Milan have finally seemed to fix the defensive woes that frustrated the first half of their season, with Bonucci and the rest of the back four allowing only three goals in their last six matches.
Milan finished first in their group with relative ease, netting 13 times as they emerged victorious over AEK Athens, HNK Rijeka and FK Austria Wien in Group D. The Rossoneri were also held goalless in three of those matches, meaning that their double-digit tally was essentially the result of three games. Crucial to Milan’s European progression has been Andre Silva who has – interestingly enough – been completely ineffective in the Serie A. His eight goals between the qualification and group stages lead the team, with youth sensation Patrick Cutrone chipping in with five of his own. Ludogorets will certainly have to be cautious at the back, as Milan’s attacking trident is lethal when they hit form.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been announced! Let’s start with the home side.
Ludogorets Razgrad substitutes: Jorge Emanuel Broun, Rafael Forster, Georgi Terziev, Gustavo Campanharo, Jacek Goralski, Wanderson, Svetoslav Kovachev.
Ludogorets Razgrad Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Renan; Cicinho, Cosmin Moti, Igor Plastun, Lucas Sasha; Anicet Abel Andrianantenaina, Svetoslav Dyakov; Virgil Misidjan, Marcelinho, Jody Lukoki; Jakub Swierczok.
Milan Starting XI (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Davide Calabria, Alessio Romagnoli, Leonardo Bonucci, Ignazio Abate; Giacomo Bonaventura, Lucas Biglia, Franck Yannick Kessie; Hakan Calhanoglu, Patrick Cutrone, Suso.
Milan substitutes: Antonio Donnarumma, Mateo Musacchio, Ricardo Rodriguez, Cristian Zapata, Riccardo Montolivo, Fabio Borini, Andre Silva.
Dimitar Dimitrov makes four changes from the side that lost in extra-time to CSKA Sofia in the Bulgarian Cup. Ludogorets will be without the suspended pair of Natanael Pimienta and Claudiu Keseru today but they keep their traditional 4-2-3-1 formation. Renan is the preferred goalkeeper to Jorge Emanuel Broun, and there is also one change in defence, with Sasha replacing the aforementioned Pimienta who will play alongside Renan, Moti, and Plastun. Andrianantenaina keeps his spot in midfield but will be paired with Svetoslav Dyakov instead of Jacek Goralski and the three attackers ahead of them are Virgil Misidjan, Marcelino and Jody Lukoki. The lone striker for Ludogorets will be Jakub Swierczok who makes his start ahead of the slightly more creative Wanderson.
Gennaro Gattuso makes only one change to the starting XI that beat SPAL 4-0 on the weekend. Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal behind a back four of Iganzio Abate, Leonardo Bonucci, Alessio Romagnoli and Davide Calabria who starts on his less-preferred left-hand side instead of Ricardo Rodriguez. A midfield three will consist of Franck Kessie, Lucas Biglia and Giacomo Bonaventura, with Suso, Hakan Calhanoglu and Patrick Cutrone the furthest trio forward.
The players are making their way out of the tunnel at the Ludogorets Arena, with the action to commence shortly.
Dimitar Dimitrov must be absolutely furious with his side. After playing confident counter-attacking football for 44 minutes, his side allow a relatively simple goal stemming from a set-piece. Cosmin Moti and Igor Plastun have put in some heroic challenges to save Renan’s goal, but questions will certainly be raised over the marking during the goal. Lukoki and Misidjan have managed to get into some dangerous positions on the flanks, but their efforts have been for naught so far.
It has not been a good half for Milan, but they enter the interval a goal up thanks to a last-minute header by Patrick Cutrone who, up until that contribution, has done very little to influence the game. Milan’s attack has appeared disjointed, with Biglia in midfield offering no solutions to their problems. Several turnovers have almost cost the Rossoneri a goal, but lucky for Donnarumma and the Milan defence, Ludogorets have been unable to apply a simple finish.
It is a finely poised game at the half, with either side able to win it in the second period. With another leg still to play in Milan, the flow of the game could change drastically, with neither side wanting to be out of the tie before the reverse fixture.
FULL-TIME: Ludogorets 0 - 3 Milan.
Ludogorets certainly pushed Milan to the limits in the first half, creating a number of chances from Lukoki and Misidjan but there were never enough men in green in the penalty area at the right moment. An agonizingly close strike from Svetoslav Dyakov which rattled the post was the closest Ludogorets came to beating Gianluigi Donnarumma, who escaped near disaster on an occasion or two in this match, as he struggled slightly with set-pieces and crosses. Ludogorets have a mountain to climb, and will need a minimum of four goals at the San Siro to advance to the Europa League Round of 16.
On a day where Milan weren’t at their best, Patrick Cutrone’s two wonderful contributions and a goal from Fabio Borini earned Milan an away victory in Bulgaria. Despite an attack that seemingly lacked chemistry from the start Cutrone was able to pop up with a goal from a Calhanoglu cross, and win a penalty kick after an obvious push from defender Cosmin Moti. Milan’s midfield were sluggish at times, but Franck Kessie was constantly in a position to slow the counter-attack, and the Milan defence held out for a clean sheet. The Ivory Coast midfielder was also instrumental in the Rossoneri’s late third goal, as his cross found Borini who stroked it home confidently.
That is all for our live commentary of the Europa League match between Ludogorets Razgrad and Milan. We hope you enjoyed it and see you all next time!
Next up for Milan is a return home to host Sampdoria on Sunday, with a win potentially sending the Rossoneri above their opponents and into sixth place. As for league leading Ludogorets, their next match is their first domestic league game in months, as they host Slavia Sofia on Sunday.
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