Newcastle United marked their return to the UEFA Champions League after 20 years with a spirited 0-0 draw away at Italian giants AC Milan.

The hosts, licking their wounds after a 5-1 humbling against Inter in the derby last weekend, had more opportunities but couldn’t find a cutting edge. There was more bad news for Stefano Pioli’s side in the second half as Mike Maignan suffered an injury.

Newcastle will return to Tyneside with a valuable away point from their first UEFA Champions League game in 20 years after earning a 0-0 draw at AC Milan, while the Rossoneri will feel they could and should have got more.

The home side dominated both first and second halves at San Siro. Eight shots on target to none for Newcastle told much of the story.

As the home side got into the game, the Geordies began to struggle, giving the ball away repeatedly in midfield and calling keeper Nick Pope into action multiple times.

Rafael Leao had the best chance of both halves. In the first, while facing away from goal, the Portuguese player latched onto a long ball in the Newcastle box before turning and going on a mazy run.

All he had to do was get off a simple shot, but instead he tried a complicated backheel and the chance was gone.

In the second 45, Leao again came closest, getting a flicked header onto an inswinging cross from substitute Alessandro Florenzi, but it was to end goalless.

Newcastle will be pleased with a point from their first Champions League game in 20 years, but they know they will need to improve if they want to progress to the knockout stages.