Soccer Football - Champions League - GNK Dinamo Zagreb v AC Milan - Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia - January 29, 2025 GNK Dinamo Zagreb's Marko Pjaca celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Antonio Bronic
ZAGREB (Reuters) - AC Milan will have to play in the Champions League's knockout phase playoffs after missing out on an automatic last-16 spot with a 2-1 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb, whose victory on Wednesday was not enough for them to progress.
A victory for Milan would have earned them a top-eight finish to qualify directly for the round of 16, but a first-half red card for defender Yunus Musah put them on the defensive.
