AC Milan vs Newcastle score, result, highlights as wasteful hosts stymied in Champions League opener

Kyle Bonn

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AC Milan vs Newcastle score, result, highlights as wasteful hosts stymied in Champions League opener image

In a loaded Champions League group where every point is considered vital, AC Milan will rue their wastefulness as they were held to a scoreless draw with Newcastle at the San Siro to begin their 2023/24 European campaign.

The hosts created countless scoring opportunities from the opening whistle to the final minute, out-shooting the Premier League visitors 25-6 throughout the match, but failed to put any of the chances in the back of the net.

Rafael Leao was the biggest culprit, creating what could have been a memorable goal for himself with a brilliant dribble before short-circuiting at the crucial moment and botching his eventual effort.

The AC Milan midfield bossed the match in front of a raucous home crowd, but Nick Pope stood tall under early siege, and his defenders took it the rest of the way, heroically blocking seven different efforts.

With PSG and Borussia Dortmund looming for both these clubs across the rest of Group F play, a failure to snatch all three points here will be bitterly disappointing, while Eddie Howe will be thrilled to escape the San Siro with something to savor.

MORE: UEFA Champions League group stage standings 

The Sporting News followed the AC Milan vs. Newcastle match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

AC Milan vs. Newcastle final score

  Score Goal scorers
AC Milan 0 –
Newcastle 0 –

Starting lineups:

AC Milan (4-3-3, right to left): Maignan (GK — Sportiello, 80') — Calabria (Florenzi, 46'), Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez — Loftus-Cheek (Musah, 72'), Krunic, Pobega (Reijinders, 61') — Chukwueze (Pulisic, 61'), Giroud, Leao.

Newcastle (4-3-3, right to left): Pope (GK) — Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn — Longstaff, Guimaraes, Tonali  — Murphy (Almiron, 63'), Isak (Barnes, 90'), Gordon (Wilson, 63').

AC Milan vs. Newcastle live updates, highlights, commentary

FULLTIME: AC Milan 0-0 Newcastle

A heroic point for Newcastle as they manage to keep the Aurelian Walls intact amidst a 90 minute assault of their goal. AC Milan overwhelmed the Premier League side from start to finish, but couldn't find a way through. It's massively disappointing from Milan at home, but for Newcastle, they can exhale knowing they come home with a massively valuable point.

25 shots for Milan when it's all said and done, worth 2.08 expected goals, but nothing to show for it. Brutal.

AC Milan vs. Newcastle: Second Half

90+5 min: Chance, Newcastle! Oh my the visitors nearly snatched it right at the death! Sean Longstaff is teed up in space at the top of the penalty area, and he fires a sizzler on frame which Marco Sportiello tips over the bar! Had that gone in, Newcastle would have committed highway robbery!

The Magpies have their first corner of the game, and take their time setting it up with the centre-backs up. Sportiello tips it away for another corner, but the whistle blows for full-time as the referee denies Newcastle another opportunity from the opposite flag.

90+3 min: Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah did well to combine down the right flank, but Kieran Trippier does absolutely brilliantly to not only dispossess Musah with a gorgeous tackle, but then manage to pop up and somehow keep the ball in play.

Milan have been poor today up front, but Newcastle deserve credit for their defensive heroics as well.

88th min: As the game reaches its final stage, the match has begun to stretch as Newcastle look to steal three points on the counter and Milan attempt to capitalise on their open play. Yet neither side is able to create a truly threatening chance as the defensive units win out on both ends.

Rade Krunic is booked after the referee initially plays advantage to allow Newcastle to develop a counter that comes to nothing. Alexander Isak is replaced by Harvey Barnes to give the visitors some extra pace in the event they can produce a counter.

81st min: Yunus Musah is booked for barging over Bruno Guimaraes as the Portuguese midfielder looks to break on the ball. The deep free-kick delivery is floated to Dan Burn who heads harmlessly wide.

Moments later, it's Olivier Giroud shown a yellow card as he is whistled for a foul and then into the referee's book for his angry reaction.

79th min: Well this is a real problem for AC Milan, as Mike Maignan is down receiving treatment, and the physio motions to the bench that a substitute will be required. Milan are a bit lucky, because they only have one substitution remaining, and they'll have to bring on Marco Sportiello for his Milan debut. It's unclear what the issue for Maignan is, but he is replaced. A twist!

76th min: Chance, AC Milan! Just like in the first half, it's another siege by the hosts and Newcastle are defending with their lives! On a corner, an initial clearance only falls to the top of the penalty area where the ball is crashed back towards goal, but a Newcastle defender gets in the way to make a heroic block.

74th min: Chance, AC Milan! Rafael Leao comes so close to heading AC Milan in front, meeting a brilliant cross from deep by Alessandro Florenzi but putting it over the bar! He comes up in some pain, holding his arm, but soldiers on eventually.

71st min: Chance, AC Milan! Tijjani Reijinders cuts back brilliantly at the top of the box to send a defender flying and create some space, but his shot is right at Nick Pope. Another poor finish.

There's a problem for Ruben Loftus-Cheek who is down receiving treatment. It doesn't look overly concerning, and the replay of his cross just before sitting on the turf doesn't show much. Yet he will come off, with Yunus Musah entering the pitch.

Newcastle also make another change, with Elliott Anderson on to take the place of Sandro Tonali who gets a big hand from the San Siro, and waves back to acknowledge the ovation.

68th min: The match has ground to a halt here in the second half, with Milan unable to create nearly the same type of pressure as they did before halftime. Neither side has had much of a look on goal.

61st min: The aforementioned speculative changes are now made, as AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli brings on his rested duo in Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders. Samuel Chukwueze and Tommaso Pobega are replaced in a pair of like-for-like swaps.

Newcastle counter with a pair of their own, as Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson replace Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy.

56th min: Sandro Tonali fouls Samuel Chukwueze to the right of the penalty area, and draws a chat from the official who likely tells him that's his final warning before a booking. It'll be Rade Krunic who stands over the ball, delivering a lateral floater in front of goal but it's cleared by Newcastle.

On the recycle, however, Bruno Guimaraes concedes a similar set-piece from the opposite side by fouling Theo Hernandez. Dan Burn heads it clear.

52nd min: Alessandro Florenzi gets forward on the ball, dribbling through the heart of the Newcastle midfield towards the penalty area, and with limited options available to pass, he lets loose a shot that's scuffed just wide right. Not far off, but doesn't trouble Nick Pope.

50th min: Newcastle have the better start to the second half as Sandro Tonali has a shot from atop the penalty area blocked, but ultimately AC Milan get back on the ball.

Fabian Schar is booked for a foul in midfield while contesting a header with Tommaso Pobega.

Kickoff: They're back under way at the San Siro, with a change for AC Milan as Davide Calabria, booked for dissent towards the end of the first half and very upset with the official, has been replaced by Alessandro Florenzi.

There may be more substitutions imminent for the hosts, as Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijinders are both receiving instructions on the touchline.

Watch in USA:

HALFTIME: AC Milan 0-0 Newcastle

The hosts will be bitterly disappointed not to have the lead as the teams head off the pitch to the dressing rooms. They were brilliant through the first 45 minutes, but after forcing Nick Pope into a number of high-quality saves early, they fell apart in front of net as halftime neared.

Most notably, Rafael Leao had a chance to score a goal that would be replayed and remembered for years, but his controller batteries died at the final, critical moment.

Davide Calabria has a lengthy and spirited discussion with the official about his continued issues with the calls on the field, but he's never going to win that one, and Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez points the Italian down the tunnel.

AC Milan vs. Newcastle: First Half

41st min: Davide Calabria picks up the game's first yellow card for dissent. He's furious, going face-to-face with the official, pointing angrily to his captain's armband indicating he believes he should be allowed to discuss things with the official. The Spanish referee disagrees, and Calabria goes into the book.

37th min: The chances are piling up for Milan, but they still have not found the back of the net! Samuel Chukwueze sends in a cross from the right, and it's headed back across to Olivier Giroud who tries for the overhead kick but doesn't even come close. It bounces back to a crashing Chukwueze but he meets it at an awkward part of its flight and blasts it over the crossbar.

It's been both electric and embarrassing from Milan at the same time! They've done everything but score!

34th min: Chance, AC Milan! HOW HAVE MILAN NOT SCORED!?!? Rafael Leao dazzles on the ball, weaving through no less than four defenders in the penalty area and working himself a massive opening at the top of the six-yard box, but he somehow fails to get a shot off on three different occasions! At the end, Leao is bundled over face-first onto to the turf by his own two feet.

The chance doesn't completely evaporate though, and on the follow-up, a fizzing shot from Tommaso Pobega at the top of the penalty area is blocked off the line by a Jacob Murphy! What a passage of play, and Newcastle barely survive!

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32nd min: Chance, AC Milan! The hosts counter straight off the previous play, and Theo Hernandez gets to the end line where he feeds Olivier Giroud streaking at the near post, but the Frenchman puts his point-blank effort wide of the post!

31st min: Sean Longstaff goes down into the penalty area under a challenge from Rafael Leao, but the referee is not interested. Replay shows a slight push, but it's not nearly enough to be penalty-worthy. Longstaff is apoplectic, but he'll be alone in those protests.

30th min: Last year's Premier League set-piece kings Newcastle have a free-kick from around 35 or 40 yards out. They attempt to work something off the training ground as Kieran Trippier feeds Sandro Tonali laterally, but it comes to nothing as they fail to get a delivery into the penalty area, so the free-kick is wasted.

25th min: Newcastle get forward for the first time in ages, and while it appeared initially that they had earned their first corner, instead the ball had deflected back off Jacob Murphy, resulting in a goal kick. There are some dejected Newcastle attackers out there so far, starved for final third possession. Alexander Isak has his head down as he retreats into midfield.

17th min: Chance, AC Milan! Nick Pope forced into yet another save as he has no choice but to tip Samuel Chukwueze's long-distance knuckler over the crossbar. It leads to another corner, which Theo Hernandez meets with a diving header, but Pope makes another outstanding reflex save, his best of the match so far! That's three excellent stops thus far for Pope and we're just one sixth of the way through this match.

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12th min: Chance, AC Milan! Newcastle give it away poorly in their own attacking third, and it sees Tommaso Pobega charge onto the ball and have a crashing hit from outside the top of the penalty area! Nick Pope gets down to his right to make a good, athletic save.

The moments later the Newcastle defence have to deal with a good Rafael Leao cross, before more Milan pressure presents sustained attacking intent, eventually put out for a corner by Pope. The set-piece nearly falls to Leao at the far post, but it was from an outrageous angle and he just barely can't reach it. Pope made three saves through that spell of attacking possession, but the first was by far the most difficult.

8th min: Neither of these teams will collect the first goal of the 2023/34 Champions League group stage. That mark has been logged by RB Leipzig, who have scored early against Young Boys in meeting as part of today's early kickoff time slot.

6th min: Now it's Newcastle's turn to work in the attacking third, as Sandro Tonali gets by two defenders on the left flank and cuts inside along the end line, but the ball momentarily rolls out of play before he can get a cross in. Both sides poking and prodding early on.

4th min: AC Milan testing out the Newcastle defensive shape early on, but finding little space. Rafael Leao decides to have a shot on goal from distance but his shot is easy for Nick Pope to collect.

Kickoff: The whistle blows, and the 2023/24 Champions League group stage is officially under way! It's the final group stage of the competition's current format, as next year will introduce the "Swiss Model" which will completely alter the way the group stage is played. It won't be a group stage at all, but instead a single table with teams jockeying for position with every other participant of this stage.

Officiating today's match is Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez.

AC Milan vs. Newcastle: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

15 mins to kickoff: The San Siro is absolutely bumping prior to kickoff, and you wouldn't expect anything less from one of Europe's most iconic grounds. They've given former player Sandro Tonali a heavy dose of love as he walks out on the pitch, understanding the player's fondness for his former club and reciprocating that admiration.

30 mins to kickoff: Who knows what Sandro Tonali is really feeling ahead of kickoff, having transferred from Milan to Newcastle in the offseason and set to face his old club. But publicly, he's been saying all the right things.

Tonali told reporters on Monday that he has strong feelings for his previous Italian home, but he has a job to do for Newcastle now. "Milan is the team that I support and that gave me the chance to make my dream come true, so I will have to know how to manage it," Tonali said.

50 mins to kickoff: Newcastle fans have been having a blast while on the Champions League away day in Milan. Yesterday, they were seen on the streets slip sliding in the Italian rain, and today they've been filmed having a swim in the city's canals. Not sure that's encouraged, but it's sure funny to watch from afar!

1 hour 5 mins to kick: Lineups are in, and they're just as we expected for both sides. Sandro Tonali is back into his regular starting role for Newcastle in his return to the San Siro, after having been rested against Brentford over the weekend. Sean Longstaff steps in for the injured Joelinton in midfield. Miguel Almiron starts on the bench with Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy preferred.

For Milan, as reported earlier, Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders are rested, with Samuel Chukwueze and Tommaso Pobega introduced in their place. Yunus Musah remains an option off the bench.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: With the difficult Group F draw, monitoring the betting market can be one way of analysing how fans view the prospects of each team to advance in the competition.

Interestingly, despite the stacked group, U.S. book BetMGM has indicated to The Sporting News that only PSG have seen their title chances fall from their opening odds, while the other three either hold firm or, in the case of Newcastle, improve.

For those in the United States, you can check out BetMGM's odds here and make your own picks!

1 hour 30 mins to kick: As these two teams get the 2023/24 Champions League group stage started, it marks a bit of a new era for European football. It will be the first time in over 20 years that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo do not feature in Europe's top competition.

With PSG looming for both Milan and Newcastle in Group F, Kylian Mbappe has the opportunity to make the world's biggest club football stage his own.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: Every single point will be critical in Group F play this year. One of the strongest Champions League groups in recent memory, anyone pulling out three points today will go a long way in challenging for a knockout stage spot. Holding off PSG and Dortmund will be extremely difficult.

Preview this year's Champions League Group of Death with predictions and picks.

2 hours to kickoff: Where one American falls, another could gain. A report on Monday from Sky Italia suggested that Christian Pulisic is likely to be dropped for this match by AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli. After Pulisic was hauled off before the hour mark in the Milan derby disaster over the weekend, that could be interpreted as a coach's decision, but zooming out indicates it's more likely for load management purposes, with Pulisic playing significant minutes over the international break.

While it's unfortunate for Pulisic to have to be rotated in such a big match, Gazzetta dello Sport suggested midfielder Tijjani Reijnders could also be given rest. This might mean that fellow USMNT star Yunus Musah gets a big chance in this match? Pioli's pick in midfield here could say a lot about Musah's standing within the squad, as Tommaso Pobega or Yacine Adli could instead be picked for the role. La Gazzetta report stated Pobega is the pick, so we shall see.

AC Milan vs. Newcastle lineups & team news

American Christian Pulisic has been a consistent starter for AC Milan early in his Italian journey, but he was yanked before the hour mark in the weekend's Milan derby, and as was reported previously, he's been rested after a long stretch of minutes, as Samuel Chukwueze earns his first start for the club opposite superstar Rafael Leao.

Tijjani Reijnders has been rotated as well, with Tommaso Pobega preferred as the replacement in midfield, leaving Yunus Musah and Yacine Adli still stuck on the bench.

Absences for Milan include Pierre Kalulu and Ismael Bennacer who are both nearing a return from injury but not quite available just yet.

AC Milan starting lineup (4-3-3): Maignan (GK) — Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez — Loftus-Cheek, Krunic, Pobega — Chukwueze, Giroud, Leao.

AC Milan subs (11): Sportiello (GK), Mirante (GK), Kjaer, Florenzi, Musah, Adli, Reijnders, Okafor, Romero, Pulisic, Jovic.

For visiting Newcastle, there are just a few issues to worry about, the most important being in midfield as Joelinton picked up a knee injury on international duty with Brazil and will miss at least the next month according to reports.

Joe Willock had a setback in his return, suffering a new Achilles problem while recovering from a hamstring injury, while defender Emil Krafth (knee) is also out.

Newcastle starting lineup (4-3-3): Pope (GK) — Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn — Longstaff, Guimaraes, Tonali  — Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

Newcastle subs (12): Karius (GK), Harris (GK), Livramento, Lascelles, Dummett, Targett, Hall, Miley, E. Anderson, Almiron, Barnes, C. Wilson.

How to watch AC Milan vs. Newcastle

Here's how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA UniMas, TUDN (Spanish) Paramount+, Fubo, Univision NOW, ViX
Canada  —

DAZN

UK TNT Sports 1 TNT Sports, website/app, discovery+
Australia  — Stan Sport
India Sony TEN 2 Sony LIV
Hong Kong beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect
Malaysia beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect, sooka
Singapore beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect, StarHub TV+
New Zealand  — beIN Sports Connect

AC Milan vs. Newcastle betting odds & lines

AC Milan are favourites at home, but only just, as the betting market has trouble parsing out the eventual result between these two teams.

There's also questions whether this match will produce goals or not, and interestingly, the oddsmakers seem to slightly favour a higher-scoring affair.

Often, odds for these early Champions League matches are muted in terms of game flow, expecting teams to approach important European games in a conservative manner, but here it seems the lean is towards an exciting 90 minutes given the defensive struggles of both sides thus far in league play.

MORE: Which teams will make it out of the "Group of Death" in this year's Champions League?

  Milan
win		 Draw Newcastle
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
2.5 goals		 ACM
-0.5		 NEW
+0.5
BetMGM
(USA)		 +150 +240 +175 -160 / +110 -130 / -105 +138 -200
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)		 +155 +247 +153 -139 / -112 -127 / -101 +160 -209
Top Betting Sites
(UK)		 7/4 9/4 17/10 3/4, 19/20 1/1, 10/13 33/20 12/25
Unibet
(Australia)		 2.75 3.25 2.70 1.76 / 2.00 2.02 / 1.79 — —
Dafabet
(India)		 2.75 3.35 2.70 1.83 / 1.99 2.21 / 1.72 — —

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.