Pioli rues refereeing decisions as Griezmann and Suarez down AC Milan - in pictures

Rossoneri led through Leao's early goal before Kessie sees red to leave them pointless in Champions League Group B

Luis Suarez celebrates with Marcos Llorente of Atletico Madrid after the Champions League Group B match win against AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Getty Images

Luis Suarez interacts with Jan Oblak of Atletico Madrid. Getty Images

Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring an injury-time penalty for a 2-1 win over AC Milan. AP

Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez scores a penalty. AP Photo

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann, right, celebrates after scoring the equaliser. AP

AC Milan's French goalkeeper Mike Maignan concedes an equaliSer by Atletico Madrid's French midfielder Antoine Griezmann. AFP

AC Milan's Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali and Atletico Madrid's French midfielder Antoine Griezmann go for the ball. AFP

Atletico Madrid's French midfielder Antoine Griezmann (R) celebrates after scoring an equalizer during the UEFA Champions League Group B football match between AC Milan and Atletico Madrid on September 28, 2021 at the San Siro stadium in Milan. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP)

Franck Kessie of AC Milan passes the ball whilst under pressure from Angel Correa of Atletico Madrid. Getty Images

AC Milan's Franck Kessie, right, is shown a red card. AP

AC Milan's Franck Kessie leaves the pitch after being sent off. EPA

Rafael Leao of AC Milan scores their side's first goal. Getty Images

AC Milan's Rafael Leao scores their first goal past Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak. AFP

AC Milan's Rafael Leao applauds fans as he walks off the pitch to be replaced by Fode Ballo-Toure. Reuters

AC Milan's chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League were dealt another blow as they went down 2-1 to a late and controversial Atletico Madrid penalty on Tuesday.

The defeat leaves the Rossoneri pointless after two matches in Group B - their worst ever start to a Champions League campaign.

Backed by a buoyant San Siro, Milan's first home match in Europe's premier competition since 2014 saw them lead through Rafael Leao's fine strike after 20 minutes.

Even after Franck Kessie's red card nine minutes later, Milan dug in admirably and looked to have frustrated their opponents, who for all their pressure, created few clear-cut chances.

However, Milan hearts were broken by substitute Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez in the final stages as the duo's goals earned Atletico a priceless victory in a match that could so easily have gone the other way.

"We played a great game, for sure," Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. "We created lots of chances, we were a team, we suffered very little, hardly at all. We were masters of the field, so the team's performance had to give us great confidence.

"The referee's decisions ... yes, Franck [Kessie] has made a foul that can be avoided but it is so early in the game and should not be a second yellow card to leave a team in the Champions League 10 men after 30 minutes.

"It is too bad, we deserved to win."

Suarez's penalty for Atletico - his first for the team in Europe - was timed at 96 minutes and 21 seconds - the latest game-winning goal in the Champions League since the start of the 2003/04 season, when such data was first gathered - and provided Diego Simeone's side with a huge boost.

The result leaves Atletico on four points from their two Group B matches, and puts them in a strong position to reach the knockout stages, sitting three points clear of Porto in third with Liverpool top on six points.

"It's true, in the first 30 minutes they put us under so much pressure and we didn't have the tools to get out of that," Simeone said. "Then they were left with one less man and from there the game changed. They were superior to us.

"I'm very happy for Antoine, he needed this goal. I had no doubts in counting on him."