The most aged Serie A fans will remember that the Giovanni Zini Stadium in Cremona has never been an easy venue for Milan. Indeed, the trend was confirmed on Tuesday night as the Rossoneri failed to break the deadlock against Cremonese in Serie A Round 13.
Despite being on the attacking end for most of the game, Stefano Pioli’s boys were frustrated by Italy U-21 goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. His saves earned Cremonese a vital point in the battle to avoid relegation and caused Milan to lose further ground against table leader Napoli.
There are now eight points between the Rossoneri and the Partenopei as Milan could be reached in the second place by both Atalanta and Lazio if they win tomorrow in their mid-week Serie A matchups.
Pioli can blame it on the absences of some key players like Theo Hernandez and Olivier Giroud but the reality is that, after losing to Torino and snatching a late win against Spezia, they put together the third so-and-so performance in a row. They will need to do more than this if they want to keep the Scudetto patch sewn on their chests.
The Milan coach also paid a bit for some overconfidence that led him to leave Rafael Leao on the bench. The Portuguese starlet was sent in during the second half but did not make any difference tonight.
Massimiliano Alvini’s Cremonese didn’t seem to have any plan but parking the bus and trying to gasp for some breath as the Rossoneri accumulated an overwhelming percentage of ball possession. Luckily for them, Carnesecchi was in one of his best nights.
The Azzurrini‘s goalkeeper stopped Divock Origi on 23 minutes, then denied Malick Thiaw as he tried to celebrate his first cap as a starter for Milan with a clinical header. Junior Messias was the next to see his conclusion pushed back by the Grigiorossi goalie.
On 56 minutes, Origi netted his second Serie A goal but it was a short illusion as the VAR caught him offside. Pioli sent in Leao and the Portuguese made himself dangerous with a long range cross that turned into a shot but Carnesecchi was alert once again.
The Milan coach’s last, desperate move was to send in 18-year-old Marko Lazetic, who came from a hat-trick scored with Milan’s Primavera selection. The Serbian youngster showed that he got some moves but it wasn’t enough to solve the Rossoneri‘s front line problems.
Cremonese are still winless in Serie A after 13 games but tonight’s draw is perhaps worthier that three points in terms of confidence and morale.
MATCH SCORECARD
November 8, 2022 – Serie A 2022-2023 Round 13
CREMONESE – MILAN 0-0
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CREMONESE (3-5-2): Carnesecchi; Aiwu, Bianchetti, Vasquez; Ghiglione (62′ Sernicola), Meité, Escalante, Castagnetti (70′ Pickel) Valeri (88′ Quagliata); Afena-Gyan (62′ Buonaiuto); Ciofani (63′ Okereke) (Saro, Sarr, Hendry, Baez, Acella, Lochoshvili, Ndiaye, Milanese, Tsadjout, Zanimacchia) Coach: Alvini |
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MILAN (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Thiaw (60′ Kalulu), Tomori, Kjaer, Ballo-Touré; Bennacer, Tonali (82′ Krunic); Messias, Diaz (74′ De Ketelaere), Rebic (82′ Lazetic); Origi (59′ Rafael Leao) (Mirante, Jungdal, Adli, Bakayoko, Pobega, Vranckx, Gabbia) Coach: Pioli |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Ghiglione, Vasquez, Valeri, Meité (C), Rafael Leao, Lazetic, De Ketelaere (M); Added Time: 1st Half 0′, 2nd Half 5′
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