Player ratings: Milan 1-0 Girona – Leao creates masterpiece, Bennacer improving

Rafael Leão was Milan’s best player in their 1-0 win over Girona in the Champions League, not only for scoring the decider but also for the ease with which he succeeded in causing havoc to the opposing defence.

In the absence of Christian Pulisic, who only came on in the second half, the Portuguese was arguably the only of his side’s attacking men looking able to disrupt the visitors’ organisation but was also well supported by his teammates in the middle of the park, namely Ismael Bennacer and Youssouf Fofana.

The former Empoli playmaker is gradually adapting to the role of a more dynamic midfielder tasked with combining ball recovery with offensive contribution, which he perfectly did by setting up Leão’s opener.

The Rossoneri still conceded too many dangerous chances to Girona, particularly by losing track of their midfielders’ runs in the box. Yet, both Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic delivered an overall solid performance, while Theo Hernandez’s main focus was on defending tonight.

On the other hand, Girona showed determination to fight but limited means to compete with the Serie A giants, especially when called to be clinical in the final third.

Milan 1-1 Girona: player ratings

Milan: Maignan 6.5; Emerson Royal n/a (Calabria 6), Pavlovic 6.5, Gabbia 6.5, Theo Hernandez 6; Bennacer 6.5 (Pulisic 6), Fofana 6.5; Musah 6, Reijnders 6 (Terracciano 6), Leao 7.5; Morata 6 (Abraham 6).

Best Milan player: Leao 7.5 – His third consecutive Champions League goal came with vital timing for a side that desperately needed a boost in confidence in a crucial game. In addition to opening the scoring with a masterpiece that was a combination of strength and technique, the Portuguese star finally seemed fully involved in his side’s play, often dropping deep to open up spaces and deliver quality passes as well as making his presence felt in the opponents’ box.

Coach: Sergio Conceição 6.5 – The San Siro crowd responded well to the coach’s call for support, with the Curva Sud chanting from beginning to end, as the Rossoneri finally were able to keep their focus for the full 90 minutes without costly distractions spoiling their work. But while the coach seems to have instilled his fighting spirit and attention to detail in his team, Milan should have been sharper in the final third to avoid risking a late equaliser, which would’ve been undeserved. There’s surely plenty of work to do, but Conceição

Girona: Gazzaniga 6.5; Alejandro Francés 5, David Lopez 5.5, Krejcì 6, Blind 6; Herrera 6.5 (Portu 6), Oriol Romeu 5.5, Van de Beek 5.5 (Asprilla); Tsygankov 5.5 (Martin 6), Bryan Gil 6.5 (Danjuma 5.5); Abel Ruiz 5 (Stuani 6)

Best Girona player: Herrera 6.5 – He provides his teammates with constant support, whether in defensive coverage or when attacking, although his stamina and determination definitely surpass his technique.

Coach: Michel 6 – While the Girona side who picked up 81 points in La Liga last season seems a distant memory, at least in terms of quality of play and efficacy, they still retain bravery that requires their opponents to fight hard to tame them. While Milan may have scored more than they did, the Spanish outfit also had their fair share of clear chances, but their inability to capitalise on them can hardly be a coincidence for a team failing to score a single goal from four Champion League fixtures on the road. Yet, Michel’s strategy allowed Girona to keep their hopes of equalising alive until the end.