Italian giants AC Milan opened their account in the Champions League campaign this season with a 1-1 draw at home against Porto on Wednesday. The result means that the Italian club keeps its hopes of making it to the knockout round alive but has only a slim chance of doing so.

Milan were behind as Luis Diaz netted an early opener for Porto Milan goalkeeper Ciprian Tătărușanu kept his side in the match with a string of fine saves before an own goal from visiting defender Chancel Mbemba salvaged a draw for the Rossoneri.

Milan’s position on the points table remains unchanged as the club remained bottom of Group B, eight points below leader Liverpool. Porto moved to second, four points below Liverpool and one above Atletico Madrid.

AC Milan are joint top of Serie A despite an injury crisis but it has been a different story on its return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2013-14 season as the Rossoneri lost all three of their opening games.

Against Porto, Milan trailed after barely five minutes as Marko Grujić managed to wrestle the ball off of Ismaël Bennacer and drive into the area before rolling across for the unmarked Luis Díaz, who had plenty of time to take a touch and shoot past Tătăruşanu.

Milan almost scored an equalizer out of nowhere in the 33rd minute, with its first real chance, but Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa did well to fingertip Olivier Giroud’s long-range effort away from goal.

Porto went even closer to doubling its lead 10 minutes into the second half but Evanilson’s header came off the bar.

Instead, it was Milan who got the second of the match, against the run of play, in the 61st minute. Bennacer’s free-kick hit the wall before rolling through for Giroud, who fired towards goal as he fell. Diogo Costa managed to parry but it came to Pierre Kalulu, whose desperate, angled attempt was turned into his own net by Mbemba.

(With AP inputs)