Player ratings: Milan 2-1 Red Star – Leao showcases supreme technique, Abraham decisive

Milan needed to sweat their way to emerge 2-1 winners against Red Star and pick up three crucial Champions League points thanks to Tammy Abraham’s late strike.

Football Italia were among the accredited media at the San Siro, here are the player ratings.

Milan

Maignan 6.5 – With his calmness and composure, he was the only player in his side’s defence to provide a sense of security.

Calabria 6 – A combative display against some lively forwards, but little more than that. (83′ Emerson Royal n/a)

Gabbia 5.5 – Seemed to struggle to deal with Red Star attackers’ mobility and contributed to his defence’s overall insecurity.

Thiaw 5.5 – His loose marking and poor aggressiveness resulted in Red Star’s crossbar in the first half and allowed Radonjic to take aim and shoot undisturbed to equalise.

Theo Hernandez 6 – Alternated some promising initiatives going forward with moments of struggle defensively.

Fofana 6.5 – Coupled his usual defensive work and tireless run with a moment of inspiration by setting up Milan’s opener with an excellent assist.

Reijnders 6.5 – A real factotum in Milan’s midfield, tries his best to bring balance and quality in the last third.

Musah 5 – Gave away a deadly ball which paved the way for Red Star’s temporary equaliser.  (83′ Camarda 6.5)

Loftus-Cheek 6 – Created little until he was on the pitch, but proved particularly accurate with his passing (28′ Chukwueze 5.5 – While he’s often called upon by his teammates, he fails to make the difference down his flank)

Leao 7 – While his night started with a wasted chance, he showcased his supreme technique by putting down Fofana’s long ball with a superb first touch before slotting past the opposing goalkeeper.

Morata 6 – A smart through-pass for Leao was all he could produce in his 30 minutes on the pitch (30′ Abraham 6.5 – Lively but ineffective, compensates for his lack of clinical edge in the first half by netting the decisive goal in the closing minutes)

Coach: Fonseca 6 – A complicated and late victory against one of the softest opponents of Milan’s Champions League fixture list was certainly not what the fans expected from a team willing to bounce back after yet another Serie A defeat. However, Pulisic’s absence and two first-half injuries did not help him.

Red Star

Gutesa 6.5; Mimovic 5.5 (75′ Kanga n/a), Diga 6.5, Spajix 6, Seoul 6; Krunic 5.5, Elsnik 6.5; Silas 6.5, Maksimovic 5.5 (60′ Radonjic 7), Milson 5.5 (46′ Ivanic 6); Ndiaye 6.5 (86′ Duarte n/a). Coach: Milojevic 6.5