Victor Boniface fires Bayer Leverkusen to Champions League win over AC Milan

Bayer Leverkusen maintained their 100 per cent start to the Champions League campaign with a 1-0 home victory over AC Milan.

The German champions got the game’s only goal through Victor Boniface in the second half after the Nigerian had seen an effort ruled out in the opening period.

The visitors created a good opening less than 40 seconds in, only for a heavy touch from Tijjani Reijnders to see a promising move fizzle out.

The Bundesliga outfit hit straight back, forcing Mike Maignan into two smart saves in the third minute.

Leverkusen thought they had broken the deadlock in the 21st minute when Boniface turned home Jeremie Frimpong’s delightful cross but the goal was disallowed on review due to an offside in the build-up.

The hosts went close again in the 27th minute, with Maignan parrying Alejandro Grimaldo’s goal-bound effort into the path of Frimpong, who blasted the rebound over.

Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Amine Adli had further chances for Leverkusen before the break, with Christian Pulisic drawing a good stop from Lukas Hradecky at the other end.

Boniface finally put Leverkusen in front in the 51st minute, turning in from close range after Maignan had denied Frimpong following a fine move involving Grimaldo.

Milan piled on the pressure after going behind, with Hradecky keeping out Youssouf Fofana before nearly being caught in possession by Alvaro Morata close to his goal line, but they could not find an equaliser.

Frimpong and Nathan Tella, meanwhile, had good opportunities to double Leverkusen’s lead but could not make them count.