MILAN ACE CHALLENGE

Giroud Helps Rossoneri Return To Last 16 For The First Time In Nine Years

Milan: Olivier Giroud has a knack of delivering in big games.

He did it again on Wednesday with two goals and two assists as AC Milan beat Salzburg 4-0 to return to the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in nine years.

Giroud opened the scoring in the 14th minute and then all but sealed Milan’s progression in the 57th after he had set up Rade Krunic for his first Champions League goal in the opening minute of the second half. Junior Messias capped a wonderful night for the Italian champion.

It was the 36-year-old Giroud’s goals in crucial matches last season that helped Milan end its 11-year wait for the Serie A title and earned him World Cup. “He’s a player and person of great depth, a really great leader and he’s doing things that a player of his level should do,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. “He’s a reference point and is helping us a lot to grow.”

Throughout his career, Giroud has earned a reputation for coming up with the goods in important moments. His crucial goals late in the 2019-20 season spurred Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League, and his six goals in the competition helped the London club win the European title for the second time.