Early Díaz goal gives Milan edge for Spurs return

On Tuesday, Spanish player Brahim Diaz secured a win for AC Milan against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League round of 16 with the game’s only goal. This was Milan’s first goal in this phase of the competition since Brazilian player Kaká did so way back in 2014.

Díaz ends Milan UCL knockout drought

Reflecting on the last time Milan scored in the UCL round of 16, we have to go back precisely to 11 March 2014, and travel to the now-extinct Vicente Calderon stadium, in Madrid. It was Kaká, captaining Milan in his second spell at the club after four seasons at Real Madrid, who netted.

In the 27th minute, the Brazilian, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2007 and was a World Cup winner in 2002, levelled the match against Atlético Madrid, who eventually secured a resounding aggregate victory over the Italians to advance to the quarter-finals.

It’s been a troubling period for the historic club and since that day, Milan had not made it to the round of 16 until now, and it was a much happier outcome. This was especially true for Brahim, who scored the winner for his team with a goal in the seventh minute, heading home after a double save by English goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Milan

• 1 Tatarusanu
• 28 Malick Thiaw
• 24 Kjaer
• 20 Pierre Kalulu Kyatengwa
• 33 Rade Krunic
• 19 Theo Hernández
• 8 Sandro Tonali (85')
• 56 Alexis Saelemaekers (76')
• 17 Rafael Leao (90')
• 10 Brahim Diaz (76')
• 9 Giroud
• Substitutes
• 2 Davide Calabria
• 46 Matteo Gabbia
• 5 Fode Toure
• 30 Junior Messias (76')
• 83 Mirante
• 32 Tommaso Pobega (85')
• 90 Charles De Ketelaere (76')
• 12 Ante Rebic (90')
• 92 Lapo Nava
• 27 Divock Origi

Tottenham

• 20 Forster
• 17 Cristian Romero
• 15 Eric Dier
• 34 Clement Lenglet (80')
• 4 Oliver Skipp
• 12 Emerson
• 14 Perisic
• 29 Pape Sarr
• 21 Dejan Kulusevski (69')
• 10 Kane
• 7 Heung-Min Son (80')
• Substitutes
• 6 Davinson Sánchez
• 41 Alfie Whiteman
• 25 Japhet Tanganga
• 9 Richarlison (69')
• 40 Brandon Austin
• 16 Arnaut Danjuma (80')
• 23 Pedro Porro
• 45 Alfie Devine
• 27 Lucas Moura
• 33 Ben Davies (80')

Substitutions

Richarlison (69', Dejan Kulusevski), Junior Messias (76', Alexis Saelemaekers), Charles De Ketelaere (76', Brahim Díaz), Ben Davies (80', Clément Lenglet), Arnaut Danjuma (80', Son Heung-Min), Tommaso Pobega (85', Sandro Tonali), Ante Rebic (90', Rafael Leão)

Goals

1-0, 6': Brahim Diaz

Cards

Referee: Sandro Schärer
VAR Referee: Marco Fritz, Fedayi San
Cristian Romero (47',Yellow) Eric Dier (62',Yellow) Sandro Tonali (79',Yellow) Theo Hernández (91',Yellow)