AC Milan – Borussia Dortmund: Dortmund Do The Business (1-3)

Group F, the so-called Group of Death, is the fraught fight many foresaw: three points separate top from bottom. The clubs with impetus now aspired to place one foot in the next stage. In another energetic encounter, the seasoned stronghold in Europe shrunk on their own turf.
Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

Group F, the so-called Group of Death, is the fraught fight many envisaged: three points separate top from bottom. The clubs with impetus from the quartet now aspired to put one foot in the next stage.

AC Milan reached the final four of the Champions League last year to compensate for a tired title defense. The Italians intended to advance afar on two fronts this time. A 1-0 win over Fiorentina ended a four game winless streak in Serie A to shore up third place in the table, taking them within six points of cross-city rivals Inter Milan. Subsequent successes were necessary to shift the standings in Europe: two victories in their last two group stage games would secure a spot in the Round of 16.

Borussia Dortmund banked the points to strengthen their stake in the competition at the ideal moment. At the midway mark of the phase, the guests were barely off the mark, staring at the probability of an early exit after a 0-0 draw with Milan in the reverse fixture. Since then, two . . .