AC Milan are on the brink of an early Champions League exit after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Porto.

Luis Diaz scored the winning goal when these sides met two weeks ago and fired Porto into an early lead in this latest Group B encounter at San Siro.

Evanilson missed a glorious chance to double the Primeira Liga leaders' advantage and that proved costly when Chancel Mbemba comically found the back of his own net.

But Milan could not find a winner and now require Liverpool to avoid defeat against Atletico Madrid later on Wednesday if they are to dodge elimination with two games to play.

Marko Grujic was a late replacement for the injured Mateus Uribe's in Porto's line-up and the midfielder played a big part in the visitors' opener, dispossessing Ismael Bennacer and playing in Diaz, who calmly slid the ball past Ciprian Tatarusanu.

At five minutes and two seconds, that was the second-fastest goal Milan had conceded at home in the competition – after Jari Litmanen for Ajax in 1994 – and the hosts could only muster a saved Olivier Giroud attempt in response before half-time.

Porto went close to moving further in front when Pepe flicked on a free-kick and Evanilson clipped the top of the crossbar with a header from close range.

Six minutes after that squandered opportunity, Giroud's parried shot was turned back across the face of goal by substitute Pierre Kalulu and poked over the line by Porto defender Mbemba under no real pressure.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was introduced from the bench and thought he had snatched a late winner, only for the offside flag to quickly go up as Stefano Pioli's men failed to find the winning goal they desperately required.

What does it mean? Milan on the brink

Milan have won 10 of their opening 11 Serie A matches, something only three teams have achieved before, but have been unable to carry that domestic form into Europe.

The Rossoneri may have got off the mark with their first point in Group B, while snapping a club-record five-game losing run in the Champions League, but this performance was again not good enough.

Even if Atletico lose at Anfield, Milan must still beat the LaLiga champions away and Liverpool at San Siro in their remaining games, while hoping other results go in their favour. A point for Porto leaves them in second spot, although that could change later in the day.

Mbemba's moment of madness

Porto had kept a clean sheet in four of their past five away games in the Champions League, including each of their last two games, and were looking comfortable until Mbemba turned in Kalulu's cross with no Milan player nearby.

The visitors were otherwise solid at the back, with veteran centre-back Pepe impressing in particular with a game-high nine clearances – at least four more than any other player on the field.

Giroud's goalless run goes on

Giroud was given the nod over Ibrahimovic in attack for Milan in what was effectively a must-win game but did not have the impact he would have liked, even if one of his two shots did lead to Milan's equaliser.

The France international has now scored just once in 326 minutes of Champions League football since scoring four goals from five shots for former side Chelsea against Sevilla in December 2020.

What's next?

Milan have a huge showdown with Inter to come in Serie A on Sunday, the same day that Porto travel to Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga.