AC Milan 2-1 Newcastle United (13 Dec, 2023) Game Analysis

AC Milan and Newcastle United were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday after the Italian side's 2-1 victory at St. James' Park saw Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé qualify for the the round of 16.

Milan at least won the consolation prize of progressing to the Europa League knockout rounds after Samuel Chukwueze's 84th-minute winner lifted the club, last season's Champions League semi-finalists, past Newcastle in third place in group F.

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Milan joined PSG on eight points after the six group matches, but finished behind the French team thanks to an inferior head-to-head record.

“It's a huge achievement,” said Christian Pulisic, who equalized for Milan in the 59th minute, becoming the first American international to score for three different teams in the Champions League, after Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea.

We have a chance to win a big competition. Of course we wanted to continue in the Champions League, but we are looking forward to playing in the Europa League.”

Pulisic's eight goals in the Champions League are twice as many as any other American. DaMarcus Beasley and Weston McKennie each scored four.

Newcastle's first Champions League campaign for 20 years – and their first under Saudi ownership – ended in disappointment as they finished bottom of a tough group and completely out of Europe.

It's a major blow to the North East club with their new status as a potential disruptor to the established elite. Expect Newcastle, which boasts the richest owners in club football following its 2021 takeover by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, to be a force in European football in the years to come, but it won't be this season .

“We are absolutely devastated not to qualify,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.

“I couldn't be more proud of what they gave me, physically and mentally. I think we left everything on the pitch and we can't have any regrets. Of course we will learn from it and try to absorb everything we have that we need to integrate into the Premier League.”

With PSG drawing 1-1 against Borussia Dortmund, a victory for Newcastle would have qualified the English team for the round of 16.

And that was the case when Joelinton put the hosts ahead with a rasping strike in the 33rd minute.

Pulisic equalized after Olivier Giroud's brilliant pass at the edge of the penalty area.

After Rafael Leão hit a shot against the post, Chukwueze – subbing for just 68 seconds – scored the winner on the break with a curling finish.

“We are disappointed to have ended our Champions League run,” Milan coach Stefan Pioli said. “We knew the group was difficult, but I think we deserved better. We should have tried our luck in the other matches.”

Milan are seven-time European champions and also won the now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup in 1968 and 1973. The club has never won the Europa League or its predecessor, the UEFA Cup.

Newcastle will rue the moment Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan threw himself to his left and tipped a Bruno Guimarães shot on target onto the crossbar when the score was 1-1.

The hosts began to run out of ideas and energy, with Howe selecting the same defense and midfield for the sixth consecutive game in all competitions, amid an injury crisis.

“The value of team above all else is what exposed us – the fact that we didn't have the ability to use the team that we created,” said Howe, who led a team during a Champions League campaign for the first time. “We went into the matches with very limited limits in what we could do and that didn’t help us.”

With just two Premier League teams – Manchester City and Arsenal – qualifying for Monday's draw, it is the weakest round of 16 challenge in 11 years for a country widely considered to have the weakest elite strength of European football.