Milan won 1-0 in at the Mario Rigamonti Stadium in Brescia on Friday to extend their winning streak to three games and continue their climb back up the Serie A table. However, it took a string of saves by goalie Gianluigi Donnarumma and Ante Rebic’s third goal in a row to pull the Rossoneri’s chestnuts out of the fire in a game which the home Rondinelle played better.
Brescia were without disqualified Mario Balotelli. Coach Eugenio Corini deployed Florian Ayé in attack alongside Ernesto Torregrossa and recovered Daniele Dessena as a box-to-box midfielder. Milan showed up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the front-line, of course, and newcomer Simon Kjaer in the center of the defense.
Match-pace was intense, but people on the Rigamonti stands had to wait 17 minutes to see the first scoring chance – a left-foot shot by Milan’s Ismael Bennacer that hit the side netting. Two minutes later, Ibra’s header called home keeper Jesse Joronen to action.
Brescia spent the first half an hour without building any clear chance, but slowly taking control of the game. When Corini’s side suddenly hit the gas, the Rossoneri found themselves crushed into their half. In the 34th minute, Ernesto Torregrossa’s header from a corner by Sandro Tonali barely missed the target and, just one minute later, Stefano Sabelli crossed from the right for Florian Ayé’s header, which called Gigio Donnarumma to a fine save.
Before half time, there was still a chance to see Ibrahimovic missing conversion from point-blank range, after Jhon Chancellor’s slip-up had put him in condition to finish from a cross by Theo Hernandez.
Ernesto Torregrossa delighted his home supporters six minutes after the break with an acrobatic volley which could have been the goal of the week. The ball missed the target by inches. Brescia kept pushing and even managed to find the back of the net, once again with Torregrossa, but the Rondinelle captain was caught in offside.
In the 58th minute, it was Sandro Tonali’s turn to scare the Rossoneri with a cross which turned into a dangerous shooting-attempt. The battle between Torregrossa and Donnarumma continued: Brescia’s Sicilian striker tested Gigio twice, forcing him to a difficult save on the second occasion. Donnarumma looked understandably furious at his side, which only answered with a long-range shot by Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Rossoneri managed to break the balance taking advantage of the very first mishap on Brescia’s part. It was minute 71 when Zlatan progressed into the box from the right and crossed in the middle. Jhon Chancellor failed to clear the ball away and Ante Rebic, who had just replaced Rafael Leao, pounced on it to whip it past Joronen.
Samu Castillejo made it two for his side with just seven minutes to go, but his goal was also disallowed due to Ibra’s offside position. Milan went for the knock-out with Theo Hernandez, who gave yet another sample of his unsuspected striking skills as he galloped all along the left flank and produced a terrific shot which made the crossbar rattling.
It ended with Milan catching their fourth win in a row between Campionato and Coppa Italia, while Brescia extended their non-winning streak to six games (four losses and two draws) – though Eugenio Corini’s side surely deserved at least one point.
MATCH REPORT
January 25, 2020 – Serie A 2019-2020 Round 21
BRESCIA-MILAN 0-1
SCORERS: 71′ Rebic
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BRESCIA (4-3-1-2): Joronen; Sabelli, Cistana, Chancellor, Mateju; Bisoli (43′ st Skrabb), Tonali, Dessena (70′ Ndoj); Romulo; Torregrossa, Ayé (78′ Al. Donnarumma) (Alfonso, Andreacci, Gastaldello, Spalek, Mangraviti, Magnani, Bjarnason, Viviani, Martella) Coach: Corini |
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MILAN (4-4-2): G. Donnarumma; Conti, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Castillejo, Kessié, Bennacer, Calhanoglu (77′ Krunic); Ibrahimovic, Rafael Leao (58′ Rebic) (An. Donnarumma, Begovic, Gabbia, Musacchio, Rodriguez, Bonaventura, Piatek, Suso) Coach: Pioli |
REFEREE: Mr. Valeri from Roma
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Sabelli, Skrabb (B), Conti, Kjaer, Hernandez, Bennacer (M); Extra Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 3′