AC Milan turned up the heat further on Neil Lennon by recording a 3-1 victory over Celtic in their opening Europa League encounter.
Lennon and his players came into the game with their backs against the wall after a 2-0 defeat to Rangers on Saturday. They started poorly as Zlatan Ibrahimovic – at 39-years-old – ran the show at Celtic Park.
Rade Krunic headed the Italians in front at 14 minutes before Brahim Diaz doubled the lead with a neat low finish at 42 minutes.
Celtic improved after the break when they switched to a back four, and Mohamed Elyounoussi gave Lennon’s team hope at 75 minutes but they were unable to fashion an equaliser.
Jens Hauge wrapped up the points in stoppage time as AC Milan stretched their unbeaten run to 21 matches in all competitions.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the oldest outfield player to start a UEFA European match for AC Milan since Paolo Maldini, who was 40 years old when he featured against Weder Bremen in 2006.
The international he proved that age really is only a number with a commanding performance, one that made his team tick from his role roaming free in the hole. His awareness of players around him still is world-class as is his ability to pick a pass as shown by his ball in behind to kickstart the attack from which Dias doubled AC Milan’s lead.
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- AC Milan are unbeaten in their first UEFA European match in each of their last 18 seasons (W15 D3) since losing 3-2 to FC Porto in the 1996/97 Champions League.
- Celtic have lost each of their last four UEFA European matches against AC Milan, losing three times in the Champions League along with tonight’s defeat.
- Krunic scored his first goal for AC Milan in all competitions in his 25th appearance for the club. He also became the first Bosnian player to score a European goal for Milan.
Napoli 0-1 AZ Alkmaar: Alkmaar travelled to Italy with just 17 players due to COVID-19 and stole a famous win
Napoli were stunned in Naples as they started their Europa League campaign with a shock defeat at home to AZ Alkmaar.
Alkmaar, who have a coronavirus depleted squad travelled to Italy with 13 of their players sidelined, but the Dutch runners-up were still able to spring a surprise against a side that reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season.
Dani De Wit found space in the area then drilled a shot beyond Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret from close range after 57 minutes to score the only and decisive goal on the night.
Leicester 3-0 Zorya Luhansk: Kelechi Iheanacho scores as the Foxes cruised to a comfortable Europa League win
James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho all registered themselves on the scoresheet as Leicester showed no signs they missed the injured Jamie Vardy, in a 3-0 win over Ukrainian visitors Zorya Luhansk in Group G.
The other teams in the group also played entertaining football as Portuguese side Braga brushed aside AEK Athens by the same scoreline.
Leicester had two Englishmen (Maddison and Barnes) score in a single European game for the first time since September 1961 against Glenavon in the Cup Winners’ Cup (Kenneth Keyworth, Hugh McIlmoyle and Gordon Wills).
Barnes seemed to have unfinished business with a host of missed chances in previous matches this season, coupled with a disappointing display when Leicester lost to Aston Villa in the Premier League. He did prove he has a lot to offer on the night of European football by grabbing the Foxes second goal of the night.
In Jamie Vardy’s continued absence with a calf injury, Leicester have been seeking a functioning Plan B. And with Barnes, Maddison and Iheanacho working so well in tandem, Rodgers will be keen for the trio to build on this free-flowing display in the competition.
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