AC Milan must overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie with Feyenoord at the San Siro, after slipping to a narrow defeat in Rotterdam on Wednesday night.
On a night where the Serie A giants were far from their best, it was ultimately a goalkeeping howler that decided the tie.
Amid the backdrop of lashing rain, the greasy surface got the better of Mike Maignan, as Igor Paixao’s seemingly innocuous strike from range was palmed into the net just three minutes in.
Feyenoord endured the worst-possible preparation for the crucial European tie, sacking their manager Brian Priske and appointing under-21 coach Pascal Bosschaart as interim – who confessed before the match to not knowing the squad “at all”.
But the hosts ultimately bossed their Italian counterparts, with Paixao getting the better of Kyle Walker to force numerous dangerous chances – notably also hitting the crossbar from range after cutting in from the left.
Feyenoord ultimately looked the more likely to further their advantage, but could not find a clinical edge – though will be more than happy with a slender victory given their 12 absentees through injury.
Eurosport