Milan have slight edge after playoff

PSV Eindhoven claw back goal against AC Milan in Champions League playoff but Italians have advantage of an away goal.

PSV Eindhoven v AC Milan - UEFA Champions League Play-offs: First Leg
All to play for in Italy: Stephan El Shaarawy (L) celebrates scoring opening and only goal for Milan [GETTY]

AC Milan clung on for a 1-1 draw away to an enterprising young PSV Eindhoven side in a pulsating Champions League playoff first leg on Tuesday with a lucrative group stage spot at stake.

The hosts, whose team had an average age of just over 22, gave the seven-times European champions a torrid time especially in the first half and were left to rue several missed chances.

Stephan El Shaarawy gave Milan a 15th minute lead against the run of play but Tim Matavz replied for PSV on the hour.

Milan, playing their first competitive match this season and one of the most important, were quickly in trouble as PSV’s Adam Maher nearly diverted a Matavz shot into the net and goalkeeper Christian Abbiati turned away Georginio Wijnaldum’s low shot. 

But with their first real attack Milan went ahead when Ignazio Abate got the better of a tussle with Memphis Depay and crossed for forward El Shaarawy to head in.

Striker Mario Balotelli hit the crossbar for Milan in the next attack before the visitors were again forced on to the back foot by PSV’s incisive, attacking play.

Maher had a superb volley parried by Abbiati and struck the crossbar after a mistake by Abate as the hosts swept forward.

Milan started the second half brightly, with Balotelli setting up two openings which El Shaarawy failed to convert, before PSV, who have won all five previous matches this season including their three domestic league games, levelled.

Abbiati was unable to hold Jeffrey Bruma’s vicious long-range drive and Matavz headed in the rebound.

PSV then missed a glorious chance to win the game as 18-year-old defender Karim Rekik headed wide from an unmarked position six metres from goal, leaving Milan with a slight advantage for next week’s return at San Siro.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Real Sociedad, Zenit St Petersburg, Kazakh side Shakhtyor IK and Czech club Plzen.

Champions League play-off round results:

FC Pacos de Ferreira (Portugal) – Zenit St Petersburg (Russia) 1-4 (halftime: 0-1)
Olympique Lyon (France) – Real Sociedad (Spain) 0-2 (halftime: 0-1)
PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) – AC Milan (Italy) 1-1 (halftime: 0-1)
Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) – Maribor (Slovenia) 3-1 (halftime: 1-0)
Shakhtyor IK (Kazakhstan) – Celtic (Scotland) 2-0 (halftime: 1-0)

Source: Reuters