Ferencváros Defeats AC Milan 2-0 in Europa League Clash
The Hungarian side secured a victory at the San Siro, leaving AC Milan struggling in the Europa League standings.
Ferencváros secured a decisive 2-0 victory against AC Milan on Thursday, November 5, in a UEFA Europa League match held at the San Siro. The result leaves AC Milan in a difficult position within the competition, currently sitting in 28th place with three points, while Ferencváros continues a strong campaign, holding third place with 12 points.
The match saw Ferencváros demonstrate clinical efficiency, managing eight shots on target compared to just two for the home side. Despite AC Milan controlling 70.1% of possession and recording 675 passes throughout the evening, they were unable to convert their offensive pressure into goals against a resilient Ferencváros defense.
AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim faced significant roster challenges heading into the fixture. With goalkeeper Mike Maignan suspended following a red card in a previous match and backup Pietro Terracciano sidelined due to injury, 21-year-old Lorenzo Torriani was called upon to start in goal. The team was also missing several key players, including Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, Samuel Chukwueze, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Alexis Saelemaekers.
In the absence of regular starters, Amorim handed the captain's armband to Adrien Rabiot. Before the match, the manager emphasized the necessity of leadership on the pitch, stating, "We don't have Mike, we don't have Luka Modric, we don't have Pulisic, so we need his experience. If something bad happens in the game, we need someone on the pitch who can lead them, give that sense of security."
Defensive adjustments were also a focal point for Milan, as Strahinja Pavlovic was rested for the first time this season. Amorim noted the difficulty of the decision, explaining, "It's strange to go into the game without Pavlovic, because we can do the rotation, but Pavlovic and De Winter are really important." Sankhoun Diawara was utilized in central defense to provide cover during the rotation.
While AC Milan has shown promise in domestic competition, including a recent 3-1 victory over Inter Milan in the Derby della Madonnina, their European form has been inconsistent. Amorim had expressed a desire to change the team's momentum in the Europa League, noting that the squad needed to prove its depth to remain competitive across all tournaments. However, the loss to Ferencváros marks another setback in their continental campaign.