AC Milan miss out on top eight with defeat to Dinamo Zagreb

AC Milan were consigned to the Champions League play-offs after a 2-1 defeat by Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.

Victory would have guaranteed the Rossoneri a place in the top eight but they were undone by goals from Martin Baturina and Marko Pjaca and had Yunus Musah sent off.

Defeat left Milan in 13th place, while Dinamo agonisingly finished outside the play-offs on goal difference in 25th.

Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was busy from the first whistle, saving from Luka Stojkovic and Baturina in the opening five minutes.

Dinamo went close again when Arijan Ademi latched on to a header from Josip Misic, with Maignan again forced into action.

They took a deserved lead in the 19th minute thanks to a dreadful error from Matteo Gabbia.

The defender was dawdling in possession when Baturina robbed him and found himself clean through, coolly slotting past the helpless Maignan from just outside the box.

Milan tried to muster a response but Youssouf Fofana was off target with a couple of long-range efforts.

And their task became a whole lot harder when Musah wrestled Stojkovic to the ground on the edge of the area and was red-carded.

However, the 10 men equalised eight minutes into the second half when Christian Pulisic turned in the box and drilled his shot inside the near post.

But Dinamo regained the lead on the hour when Pjaca controlled Ronael Pierre-Gabriel’s cross and buried his shot across Maignan.

Milan had a penalty overturned by VAR after a foul by Rafael Leao and Samuel Chukwueze had a late chance to level, but his effort was saved by Ivan Nevistic.