AC Milan won its "derby" against Antonio Conte and Tottenham (1-0) on Tuesday at San Siro in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, even if the small margin leaves everything open for the return on March 8 to London. 

With the return of the little music of the C1, the Rossoneri remembered their glorious European past - seven crowns in the Champions League against none for the Spurs - and found a "grinta" a little lost in recent weeks, at the image of the energetic goal scored in two stages by Brahim Diaz at the start of the match (7th). 

A Gala San Siro

San Siro, full to the third ring of some 75,000 spectators, had put on its party clothes for this first eighth of C1 of the Rossoneri for almost ten years (season 2013/14), the first for the new owner, the American fund RedBird, at the head of the club since the summer.

An atmosphere worthy of those of the derbies well known by Tottenham coach Antonio Conte, Italian champion with Inter Milan in 2021. Conte who, on the nerazzurro bench for two years, won four of his five Milanese derbies. 

Is it this fiery atmosphere that explains the slightly timid start of Tottenham and its young midfielders, Oliver Skipp (22), first tenure in C1, and Pape Matar Sarr (20), first appearance at all in C1, launched into battle in the absence of the injured Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma?

Goal in the first minutes

Milan in any case took the opportunity to score on his first opportunity.

Theo Hernandez came through the air and unleashed a powerful shot that goalkeeper Fraser Forster could only repel.

Brahim Diaz took over and then concluded with a diving header on the line after another save from the substitute goalkeeper for Hugo Lloris.

Milan was then more cautious, with an Olivier Giroud not sparing himself in the pressing and a compact team in front of the three-man defense recently adopted by Stefano Pioli to stop the haemorrhage of goals conceded since the beginning of January.

Ciprian Tatarusanu, the replacement for Mike Maignan also still confined to the stand since September, was attentive on his line on a deviation from the head of Eric Dier (13th) and a strong strike from Emerson (26th). 

The Romanian, mainly threatened from set pieces, released his two best saves just before the break in front of Son Heung-min then Harry Kane.

But for nothing, because the South Korean was finally flagged offside at the start of the action (45th). 

The second period started like the first with the Milanese once again higher and more incisive against the English forced to make mistakes, like Romero passed close to red for a dangerous tackle (48th) or Dier warned and suspended in the return match (63rd). 

Milan could have trembled when Tatarusanu hurt his ankle on a bad reception (59th).

The Romanian limped off for a few minutes but was eventually able to finish the encounter, continuing to reign without shaking in the air.

As if lifted by the character of their goalkeeper, who was sometimes challenged, all of Milan finished better and even came very close to a second goal which would have changed a lot of things on the return, but the heads of Charles de Ketelaere (78th) then Malick Thiaw ( 79e) came close to the uprights.

Conte has not said his last word.

With AFP

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