AC MILAN 0-1 ATLETICO MADRID REVIEW

AC MILAN 0-1 ATLETICO MADRID REVIEW - Diego Costa's late strike sinks unlucky Rossoneri at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

The Rossoneri were unfortunate to suffer defeat against Spanish high flyers Atletico Madrid as a late second half goal from the in-form Diego Costa ruined their hopes of heading into the second leg on equal terms.

Clarence Seedorf’s side produced a performance few thought possible as they defied their critics to consistently put the Spanish side on the backfoot and were unlucky not to go into the break ahead.

However, initially it was the Rossoneri who were immediately under pressure from the start with the Spanish side intent on unsettling the hosts and making the most of their stuttering form this term, but after a short spell of stout defending they slowly took control.

On 15 minutes the home side had the first clear-cut chance of the match as Kaka watched a wonderful first time effort with his left rattle the crossbar after a deflection.

Moments later Andrea Poli arrived unmarked just outside the six yard box to meet an Adel Taarabt cross, but Thibaut Courtois produced the save of the match to tip his header onto the post.

With the intensity of the match increasing, tempers flared when Emiliano Insua mistimed a challenge on opposing full-back Mattia De Sciglio and the injury the Italian sustained eventually forced him off for Ignazio Abate.

Next it was the Spaniards turn to reassert themselves as a spell of sustained possession was eventually converted into a cross from the right, but Raul Garcia’s tame header was easily collected by Christian Abbiati.

Before the half ended Kaka would go close again, meeting a Mario Balotelli backheel to curl just over the frame of the goal, then, with Atletico striker Diego Costa looking certain to score, substitute Abate arrived to poke the ball just past his own post.

Atletico started the second half as they had the first, dominating possession and forcing Milan to defend deep, conscious that conceded a goal to early would undo all their hard work from the opening 45, however, all they created was an acrobatic effort from Costa that failed to trouble Abbiati.

While the Rossoneri failed to wrestle control back from the Spaniards as quickly as they had previously they eventually began pressing for a vital goal to take into the second leg, but Taarabt and Kaka barely troubled Courtois with a couple of tame efforts from distance before Michael Essien misjudged a header when unmarked.

As the match entered the closing stages a Milan side who have had their defensive troubles this term became notable more cautious and happy to thwart their rivals attempts to breakdown their determined defensive unit only for it to backfire with less than 10 minutes remaining.

As the Atletico corner was swung into the Milan box Abate could only send the ball soaring skywards from his attempted clearing header and as the ball dropped the talismanic Costa sent a powerful header past the helpless Abbiati.

Despite the defeat the Rossoneri will take plenty of confidence from the defeat to the Vicente Calderon where Atletico wait to finish the job,when the two sides meet again.