12th October, 2022
Chelsea claimed their first Champions League win in Italy for 19 years by defeating 10-man Milan 2-0 at San Siro to move to the top of Group E.
A 4-0 victory over Lazio in November 2003 had represented the Blues’ last win on Italian soil in Europe’s elite club competition, but this was similarly routine following a contentious Fikayo Tomori red card.
Jorginho’s penalty gave the visitors a 21st-minute lead after former Chelsea defender Tomori was dismissed for fouling Mason Mount in the box.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then doubled the lead before half-time, with that enough to send Graham Potter’s side to the pool summit following Salzburg’s 1-1 draw with Dinamo Zagreb.
Milan were reduced to 10 men in the 18th minute when Tomori was controversially shown a straight red after tangling with Mount in the box when the Chelsea man was through on goal. Jorginho then calmly sent Ciprian Tatarusanu the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Olivier Giroud, another former Chelsea player, squandered a glorious opportunity to equalise for Milan in the 27th minute, heading Brahim Diaz’s inviting cross wide from eight yards out.
And the Rossoneri were to rue their wastefulness as Chelsea doubled their lead seven minutes later. As he had in a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge six days earlier, Aubameyang netted the second with a clinical finish from Mount’s neat lay-off.
Substitute Conor Gallagher went close to adding a third within four minutes of the restart but could only find the side-netting, while Aubameyang drew smart reflexes from Tatarusanu.
As Sergino Dest fired over at the other end and the Rossoneri fell to a fifth home defeat in six Champions League games against English opposition, the only dampener for Chelsea was an injury to England right-back Reece James.
What does it mean? Chelsea continue resurgence under Potter
Chelsea remain unbeaten in five matches under Potter, with four successive wins including clean sheets in each of the last three.
Milan, who themselves could have moved to the top of the standings, will be glad to see the back of the Blues, against whom they are without a win in six meetings after suffering consecutive defeats in this fixture for the first time.
Silva the centurion
Thiago Silva produced a typically assured performance at the heart of the Chelsea defense, with a game-high six clearances helping earn a clean sheet against his former club, where he spent three seasons.
The veteran center-half also on Tuesday became the fifth Brazilian to make 100 Champions League appearances after Roberto Carlos (120), Dani Alves (111), Fernandinho (103), and Marcelo (102).
Nightmare reunion for Tomori
Tomori endured another day to forget against Chelsea, having been criticized for his role in a one-sided result at Stamford Bridge last week.
Worse was to come as Tomori got caught the wrong side of Mount, even if the Chelsea man stayed on his feet and got a shot away. The decision provoked debate and left Tomori’s teammates playing catch-up.
What’s next?
Both sides are on their travels when they return to league action this weekend. Chelsea aim to build on their momentum in the Premier League when they travel to Aston Villa, while Milan head to Verona in Serie A.