Champions League News

Current European champions AC Milan have beaten Celtic 1-0 in their final Champions League Group D match at the Stadio Guiseppe Miazza in Milan on Tuesday night, with Filippo Inzaghi scoring the only goal of the match and with that goal becoming the record top-scorer in UEFA club competition, surpassing German legend Gerd Müller's tally of 62 goals.

In a first-half lacking ideas from both sides, the hosts had the majority of possession, but neither goalkeeper being tested, with both sides seemingly content with a draw.

The second half saw Milan come out with far more intent, and came close to taking the lead within minutes of the restart when Andrea Pirlo’s curling free-kick went just wide of Artur Boruc’s left-post.

There was a bizarre moment in the 59th minute when Inzaghi, claiming that he thought he was offside, headed the ball straight into the hands of a relieved Boruc, when the goal was wide open for him.

Milan took the lead in the 69th minute, with Filippo Inzaghi latching on to Cafu’s cross in the penalty area and tapping the ball in from close-range to make it 1-0 and score his 63rd European club competition goal, taking him past Gerd Müller's long-standing record of 62 goals.

Celtic managed to get their first shot on target in the 71st minute, with Aiden McGeady testing Kalac in the AC Milan goal for the first real time, but unfortunately the shot was straight into the arms of the Milan keeper.

The visitors had a couple of chances to equalise as the second half wore on, with Scott Brown, McGeady and substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink all on-target, but it was Milan who had the better chances.

Kaka had two great chances to extend the lead, but good defending from substitute Evander Sno denied Kaka an open-goal opportunity after slipping past Boruc.

The game finished 1-0, with Gordon Strachan’s team having secured a place in the next stages of the Champions League, against against an AC Milan side that have already ensured qualification to the next stage and only needed only to avoid defeat to ensure they finish as Group D winners.

Portuguese side S.L. Benfica beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in the other match in Group D to assure a UEFA Cup place, which means that Celtic have finished second in Group D and now progress to the knockout phase of the Champions League.

AC Milan v Celtic Champions League Group D Teams:

AC Milan Team: Kalac, Cafu, Gattuso, Inzaghi, Seedorf (Gourcuff, 69), D. Simic (Kaladze, 30), Favalli, Pirlo (Brocchi, 74), Kaka, Ambrosini, Bonera.

AC Milan substitutes not used: Fiori, Gilardino, Oddo, Aubameyang.

Celtic Team: Boruc, G. Caldwell, S. Brown, Hartley, Pressley, Donati (Sno, 71), Jarosik (Zurawski, 78), McDonald (Vennegor, 65), McManus, McGeady, O’Dea.

Celtic substitutes not used: Brown, Balde, Caddis, Killen.