Sassuolo-Milan 1-1
GOAL: 18′ st Rabiot, 23′ st Odenthal
SASSUOLO (4-3-3): Muric 5.5; Van Der Brempt 5.5 (34′ st Cinquegrano sv), Caleta-Car 6, Leysen 6 (26′ pt Odenthal 7), Doig 6; Adic 6 (15′ st Thorstvedt 5), Matic 6 (34′ st Lipani sv), Bakola 6.5; Berardi 6, Esposito 5.5 (15′ st Bowie 6.5), Laurienté 6. On the bench: Satalino, Turati; Candé, Obrador, Walukiewicz; Ghion, Sulemana, Domínguez, Skjellerup, Volpato. Coach: Aquilani 6.5.
MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan 6.5; Gila 7, Gabbia 6 (19′ pt De Winter 6), Pavlovic 6, Estupiñan 5.5 (1′ st Modric 6.5); Chukwueze 5.5 (40′ st Hutchinson sv), Musah 5.5 (33′ st Jashari sv), Rabiot 7, Moreira 6; Pulisic 6 (33′ st Cisse sv.); Ramos 6. On the bench: Bouyer, Torriani; Bartesaghi, Diawara, Terracciano F., Tomori, Comotto, Loftus-Cheek; Camarda. Coach: Amorim 6.5
REFEREE: Fourneau of Roma 6
NOTES: clear afternoon, pitch in good condition. Booked: Thorstvedt, Estupiñan, De Winter, Ramos, Pavlovic Corners: 3-5. Recovery time: 7′ pt, 4′ pt
The Sassuolo camp proves to be little friendly to Milan, who have not won in Reggio Emilia since the 2021-22 season, that of the Scudetto. Since then a knockout and, after yesterday, the third draw. Amorim’s team is overtaken after taking the lead, fails to reach third place and slips back in the standings: A missed opportunity, given Rabiot’s advantage, however quickly canceled out by Odenthal, but all things considered, Milan can breathe a sigh of relief, both for a foul called by Lipani on Ramos in the Rossoneri area before Thorstvedt netted the possible 2-1, and for Maignan’s save on the same Norwegian just before the treble whistle. It’s a point that suits Sassuolo well and confirms the Neroverdi among the surprises and the most organized teams in Serie A while Amorim’s team’s difficulties in front of goal are confirmed: Goncalo Ramos, goal machine with Portugal, isn’t unlocked. Also to change this state of affairs, Amorim designs a 4-man defense with Gabbia and Pavlovic in the centre, Rabiot and Musah in midfield and Chukwueze Pulisic and Moreira in support of Ramos. On the other side, Aquilani presents Adzic and Bakola in support of Matic in midfield and in defence, without the injured Idzes, he focuses on Caleta-Car.
The first half struggled to gain rhythm, thanks to fragmented play and two injuries that appeared serious: Amorim lost Gabbia in the 18th minute due to an injury to the flexors of his left thigh and Aquilani had to insert Odenthal due to a knee injury suffered by Leysen. At the end of the first half Moreira lights up, repeatedly breaking down the left. From his cross comes a shot from Ramos, which Muric deflects into a corner, as well as in the 43rd minute on the Portuguese’s header triggered this time by Chukwueze. There is always the black and green goalkeeper to say no to Moreira in full recovery. In the second half Amorim removes Estupinian giving space to Modric and the Rossoneri return to 3-4-2-1, with Rabiot and Pulisic supporting the striker. The move works: first Moreira sows panic and in the 18th minute the Croatian finds the insertion of the Frenchman, who with a left-footed conclusion beats Odenthal and Muric. Aquilani also changes: Thorstvedt and Bowie come on and Sassuolo reacts, with the Scot and the Norwegian having a double chance two minutes later, but Maignan says no, only to bow out two minutes later, when the ball from the melee from a set piece comes out in the small area and Odenthal makes amends by immediately impacting the match. Chukwueze has the opportunity one-on-one with Muric to bring the challenge back to the Rossoneri side, but Muric is always there. And in the finale, Thorstvedt gives you chills. It ends 1-1, Milan is fifth with 12 points and sees the best teams move away, while Sassuolo rises to tenth place with eight.