Tijjani Reijnders played a crucial role in securing AC Milan’s first points of the Champions League campaign, netting two goals in a 3-1 victory over 10-man Club Brugge at the San Siro on Tuesday.
The Netherlands midfielder found the net twice in quick succession, scoring in the 61st and 71st minutes. His contributions came after Christian Pulisic had given Milan an early lead with a goal straight from a 34th-minute corner, only for Brugge to equalise shortly after half-time through Kyriani Sabbe.
Brugge’s hopes of a comeback were hindered when Raphael Onyedika received a straight red card just before half-time for an accidental stamp on Reijnders’ ankle, leaving them with 10 men.
Reijnders’ two classy first-time strikes were nearly overshadowed by a stunning header from 16-year-old Francesco Camarda, who would have become the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history. However, his goal was ruled out for offside, much to the disappointment of coach Paulo Fonseca. “His goal being disallowed was disappointing for him. He deserves to be in the squad, and he’ll score plenty of goals in the future,” Fonseca said.
This victory was vital for Milan, who face Real Madrid in their next Champions League fixture. Had they failed to secure all three points, their qualification for the knockout stage could have been jeopardised.
Despite the win, the match was played in front of a subdued crowd as Milan’s ultras continued their protest against high ticket prices. The cheapest tickets for Milan’s upcoming Serie A clash with Juventus are set at a staggering 100 euros, with the most expensive reaching 479 euros.
The major supporters club AIMC, which represents tens of thousands of fans, condemned the club’s pricing policy, stating it favours rich foreign tourists or casual fans. Attendance for Tuesday’s match was just 58,649, a significant drop from the usual 70,000-plus crowd at San Siro for high-stakes matches.
Fans are also keen to see the latest developments in the joint project with Inter Milan to build a new stadium, which was announced earlier on Tuesday, following the abandonment of a previous project due to concerns over reduced capacity and increased hospitality seating.
