Feyenoord 1-0 AC Milan: Paixao stuns visitors to earn slim first-leg win

A goalkeeping howler handed Feyenoord a 1-0 win over AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase playoff tie, days after firing their head coach.

Pascal Bosschaart made a winning start to life as interim boss, with the Dutch side now taking a slender advantage into the second leg at San Siro next week.

Igor Paixao scored the game’s only goal after just three minutes when his speculative effort from a tight angle on the left flank skidded with pace off the wet surface, and slipped through the gloves of Mike Maignan.

It was a shot that should have been a routine save for the France international, but the error gave Feyenoord a dream start and set the tone for a virtuoso performance from Paixao.

The Brazilian winger was at the heart of Feyenoord’s attacking enterprise and also struck the bar shortly before the break with a dipping shot from a similar position to his first, but with Maignan beaten, it bounced off the woodwork.

Julian Carranza also struck just wide of the far post in the second half as the hosts showed no ill effects from the shock decision to fire coach Brian Priske on Monday.

Tijjani Reijnders came closest for Milan, lifting a shot just over the crossbar, but the visitors looked off-kilter, with Timon Wellenreuther comfortably holding onto his clean sheet.

This is what we stand for! ‍#feyacm • #UCL pic.twitter.com/DKbMeADg0u

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) February 12, 2025

Data Debrief: Quick out of the blocks

Bosschaart would have wanted Feyenoord to make a bright start, but even he might not have imagined his first game going the way that it did.

Paixao’s third-minute goal is the fastest Feyenoord have scored in a Champions League/European Cup since September 1971 (Willem van Hanegem, also three minutes in).

The Dutch side have also extended an impressive record. When leading at half-time, they have not lost any of their last 25 matches in the competition (won 22, drawn three); only Lyon (48 games) have gone in leading more often at the break without ever losing such a match.

For Milan, it is a similar story – they have failed to win any of their last 12 away games in the Champions League knockout rounds (drawn four, lost seven), scoring three goals in total across the last 11 matches in that run.