AC Milan celebrated their first victory in this season’s UEFA Champions League by defeating Club Brugge 3-1 at the San Siro on Tuesday night. Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders played a pivotal role, scoring twice to help Milan secure their first points in the group stage.
This win comes at a crucial moment, as the seven-time European champions now prepare for a challenging away fixture against Real Madrid.
The match started on a positive note for Milan when Christian Pulisic scored directly from a corner kick in the 34th minute.
However, their lead was short-lived. Just six minutes into the second half, Brugge’s Kyriani Sabbe equalized, putting the pressure back on the home team.
At that point, Club Brugge was already down to 10 men after midfielder Raphael Onyedika was shown a straight red card in the 40th minute for a dangerous tackle on Reijnders.
With a one-player advantage, Milan seized control, and Reijnders took center stage. He restored Milan’s lead in the 61st minute with a clean finish, followed by another well-executed goal just ten minutes later, making it 3-1.
The Dutch international’s performance was essential in reviving Milan’s hopes in the competition.
A brief moment of excitement erupted in the stadium when 16-year-old Francesco Camarda scored a stunning header, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Despite this, Camarda’s involvement showcased Milan’s promising future talents.
While the win was a positive outcome on the field, the atmosphere off it remained tense. Only 58,649 fans attended the match, a significantly lower turnout compared to the usual 70,000.
The dip in attendance reflects growing discontent among Milan supporters over rising ticket prices. The club’s hardcore ultras remained silent throughout the game, continuing their protest from the weekend.
The controversy began when it was revealed that ticket prices for Milan’s upcoming match against Juventus would start at 100 euros, with premium tickets costing up to 479 euros.
AIMC, the official Milan supporters’ association, criticized the club, stating, “We’re not cows to be milked, we’re not just here to fill the stadium for the lesser matches, we’re not just here to fill the club museum or San Siro’s car parks with 120 coaches every time we play at home.”
