Ignazio Abate’s Rossoneri spring beat Fernando Torres’ colchoneros thanks to goals from El Hilali and Stalmach and for the first time accessed the final four of the Youth League, scheduled in Nyon in mid-April. This is the third Italian team to reach this milestone after Roma (2014-2015) and Juventus (2021-2022)
For the first time in its history, the Milan vola in semifinale in Youth League. The Rossoneri are among the best four young teams in the Champions League thanks to their victory in the quarterfinals againstAtletico Madrid: 2-0 the final result at “Vismara” thanks to goals, one in each half, by Stalmach and El Hilali. A historic goal for Ignazio Abate’s Rossoneri who become the third Italian team to reach the semi-finals of the Youth League after Roma in 2014-2015 and Juventus in 2021-2022.
The story of the match
The Vismara challenge hid many pitfalls for Abate’s Milan who found thefriend Fernando Torres, teammate in the Rossoneri in the 2014-2015 season. It was the former defender who got the upper hand thanks to a careful and intelligent game of his boys who left the ball in the hands of Atletico Madrid, but without conceding goals for the fourth consecutive game. Against Milan is managed to hit on the counterattack, unlocking the match after 12 minutes with the first lunge. It all started from a vertical pass by Zeroli for Bakoune, unloading into the area towards Stalmach which bags of first intention. Atletico Madrid play with personality and even come close to equalizing with Munoz, but his shot goes just wide. In the second half the colchoneros drop while Milan comes out who, after wasting a chance with Cuenca, double their lead in the 67th minute with El Hilali who surprises Iturbe on his post with a first intention shot on an assist from Traore. The seal on the game of the young Rossoneri under the eyes of Paolo Maldini who watched the match in the stands alongside AC Milan youth manager Angelo Carbone.
In the semifinals with Dortmund or Hajduk
Milan thus accesses the final four, scheduled for next month in Nyon. Friday 21st April the semifinal is expected at the Colovray Stadium against the winner of Borussia Dortmund-Hajduk Spalato who will face each other on Wednesday in Germany. On the other side of the table, however, Sporting Lisbon awaits either Real Madrid or AZ Alkmaar. The final, also in Nyon, is scheduled for Monday 24 April.
Abate: “Historic result, I dedicate it to the boys and the club”
Ignazio’s satisfaction is so great Abatein his first season as coach of the Rossoneri’s Primavera side: “It’s a historic result for a club that has never gone beyond the round of 16, I dedicate this milestone to the kids and to society. When I signed last summer they asked me to believe it because we could stay in Youth. We grew up slowly, we knew we’d find it difficult at the beginning due to the age difference. I’m happy for the boys, but we haven’t done anything yet. Now we will play a historic semi-final. All the boys have the talent to aspire to an important career“.
MILAN-ATLETICO MADRID 2-0
12′ Stalmach, 67′ El Hilali
MILAN (4-3-3): Nava; Bakoune, Coubis, Simic, Bozzolan; Stallmach (74′ Malaspina), Eletu, Zeroli; Cuenca (79′ Alesi), El Hilali (85′ Nsiala), Traore (79′ Sia). All.: They have
ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): Iturbe; Bonar (69′ Fabi), Kostis, Moreno (61′ Mbomio), Gonzalez (61′ Diaz); Santamaria (69′ Vasiljevic), Gismera, Munoz, El Jebari; Nino (72′ Gomez), Raihani. Location: Torres
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer (Austria)
Ammonite yourself: Bakoune (M), Traore (M), Bozzolan (M), Moreno (A), Munoz (A)
