AC Milan secured their third consecutive Champions League victory with a 3-2 win over Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday as the home side attempted a late comeback.

Milan arrived on the back of a 3-1 win at Real Madrid, while Slovan were beaten 4-1 by Dinamo Zagreb last time out in the tournament, but for much of the match the home side looked more than capable of giving their visitors real problems to deliver. .

The first half ended on level terms when Milan’s Christian Pulisic opened the scoring in the 21st minute, before a quick counter-attack led to Slovan Tigran Barseghyan’s equalizer three minutes later.

Milan struggled to clear Slovan before substitute Rafael Leão put them ahead again in the 68th minute and Tammy Abraham took advantage of a horror back pass from David Streelec to extend their lead three minutes later.

Slovan pulled a goal back through Nino Marcelli in the 88th minute and also had Marko Tolic sent off late on, but Milan came through the late drama to move to nine points.

Slovan, without points, remains at the bottom of the rankings.

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Milan controlled the game in the Slovan half for the first fifteen minutes without creating any real danger, before a quick counter from the home side almost let them in and take the lead.

Barseghyan’s pass sent Streelec through on goal, where he rounded the keeper, but his finish lacked power, allowing Strahinja Pavlovic to slide in to block the shot.

The visitors finally made their possession count when Abraham’s through ball on the halfway line released Pulisic and he raced into the area before directing his low shot into the far corner.

Milan did not learn their lesson from Slovan’s earlier counter and this time Barseghyan collected the ball in his own half without a single opponent in front of him.

Tijjani Reijnders was the closest Milan player, but he couldn’t keep up the pace and Barseghyan calmly slotted the ball over the oncoming Maigan.

Milan sent on Leao at the start of the second half and the Portuguese winger put them ahead again after Youssouf Fofana’s crossfield pass found him in front of his marker and coolly slotted the ball past the keeper.

Things looked all wrong for Slovan when Streelec played a pass back into the box, which only went as far as Abraham, who had the simple task of turning and sending a shot past the helpless keeper.

The match seemed like a long match, but Marcelli’s brilliant strike from outside the penalty area suddenly gave Slovan hope. All they could muster was Tolić receiving a double yellow card for a foul and dissent, and Milan survived to take all three points.