Christian Pulisic's return to Dortmund failed to ignite as AC Milan left Germany with a point in hand after a goalless draw.
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Pulisic starts in return to DortmundMusah also in Milan XIReyna remains on bench yet again
Pulisic entered the game in good form, having scored against Lazio over the weekend. On Wednesday, he returned to Signal Iduna Park for the first time since leaving the club to join Chelsea in 2019 as he looked to help his side to three crucial Champions League points.
The American was named to Milan's starting XI, as was fellow U.S. men's national team star Yunus Musah, but Milan couldn't muster much in a 0-0 draw.
On the Dortmund side, Gio Reyna was once again named to the bench, but wasn't among Edin Terzic's substitutions as he waits for his first appearance of the season.
GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Pulisic started and went just under 70 minutes for Milan, who were unable to muster much against Dortmund. Their best moments generally came from Rafael Leao, who retained his starting place opposite Pulisic and alongside Olivier Giroud in the attack.
Musah was a bit more involved than Pulisic, as the young midfielder made just his second start for the club and his first in the Champions League. Musah's best contributions, though, were on the defensive end, where he put in a strong shift.
Milan had a chance to win it late when Leao played in Pulisic's replacement, Samuel Chukwueze, who couldn't quite get the ball out from under his feet before firing a tame shot.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
With the draw, this season's Group of Death takes an interesting turn, especially considering the result of the other game.
In Wednesday's other match in Group F, Newcastle stunned Paris Saint-Germain at St. James' Park, vaulting them right up to the top spot in the group. PSG, meanwhile, are second thanks to their win over Dortmund in their opening match.
That leaves Milan in third behind their two rivals, while Dortmund will finish the day in fourth on just one point.
It's all to play for, though, as the teams head into matchday three on October 25 with Milan facing PSG and Dortmund visiting Newcastle.
Getty ImagesUSMNT IMPACT
With camp looming, the concerns surrounding Reyna will remain after this one.
The American still hasn't gotten off the bench for Dortmund and has not played a game since the start of the season. In fact, his last appearance came in the Nations League back in June. During those games against Canada and Mexico, Reyna offered a glimpse into what he can do as a No.10 but, due to his lack of minutes, will we get a chance to see that in October camp?
It'll be a big decision for Berhalter, but, if Reyna gets into the game when Dortmund return to the Bundesliga this weekend, it will add a bit of justification to a potential Reyna call-up.
Getty/GOALGOAL'S RATINGS
Christian Pulisic (4/10):
Essentially invisible for most of the match as he never really got going on his return to Dortmund. Could have gotten an assist early in the second half if he'd teed up Leao, but that was about as good as it got as the American amassed just 30 touches in 70 minutes.
Yunus Musah (6/10):
Another relatively solid performance for Musah, who had good moments in the attack and in defense. Won the ball several times, showing that his defensive ability is improving, and that'll help him lock down a more consistent place in this Milan XI.