Milan grabbed three more points and maintained their clean sheet as they eased past Crotone at the Enzo Scida Stadium in Serie A Round 2. It was an easy one for the Rossoneri as Giovanni Stroppa’s Sharks never managed to pose any threat to their goal.
Crotone were coming from a brutal hammering at the hand of Genoa, who had put four past the Squali in their opening game last week. Milan, on the other hand, were coming from a 2-0 win over Bologna and then a much more strenuous mid-week test in the Europa League Qualifiers.
The test looked easier on paper for Milan, so Stefano Pioli gave a chance from the start to Sandro Tonali in midfield and Brahim Diaz as a left-winger. Ante Rebic acted as lone striker in absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic who tested positive to the COVID-19 earlier in the week.
After a few minutes of stalemate, a good combination between Sandro Tonali and Brahim Diaz prompted Alex Cordaz’s answer, the goalkeeper producing a fine save from the Real Madrid on-loan player’s shot. Milan’s start, as expected, was more aggressive and Hakan Calhanoglu tested twice more the Crotone goalkeeper, always finding him ready.
There was not much else happening in the first half, until Theo Hernandez found Ante Rebic in the box with a wonderful long-range pass right before the break. The Croatian was pushed down by Luca Marrone, causing a penalty that Frank Kessié converted to send the Rossoneri to the changing room on a 1-0 lead.
Crotone protested for an alleged handball by Rebic as he controlled the ball, but the referee didn’t change his decision after checking the VAR. Giovanni Stroppa’s side didn’t manage to come anywhere close to Gianluigi Donnarumma for the whole first half, their lone striker Simy Nwankwo looking too isolated to do any damage.
Four minutes after the restart, Brahim Diaz collected the first goal in his Italian adventure. Hakan Calhanoglu stole the ball to Eduardo Henrique and served Alexis Saelemaekers on the right flank. The Belgian sent it in the box, where the Turk failed to convert the chance – but not so did Brahim, who spun on himself and put the ball past Cordaz with a fine left-foot touch.
Milan could then maintain control of the game and ease towards the end as Pioli enjoyed the good performances of Tonali and Brahim Diaz. There were some bad news, however, for Ante Rebic, who was forced to leave the pitch in the 57th minute for what looked like a serious arm injury. On that note, the recovery of Rafael Leao after his post-COVID quarantine should offer Stefano Pioli more offensive possibilities for the coming games.
Crotone will have a chance for redeem on Saturday as they travel to Sassuolo, whereas Milan will come back to the pitch again on Thursday as they face Rio Ave of Portugal in their last Play-Off game to access the Europa League Group Stage.
MATCH REPORT
September 27, 2020 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 2
CROTONE-MILAN 0-2
SCORERS: 45’+1 Kessié pen., 50′ Brahim Diaz
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CROTONE (3-5-2): Cordaz; Magallàn, Marrone, Golemic; Zanellato (46′ Eduardo), Cigarini, Messias, Pereira (71′ Reca), Molina (82′ Rispoli); Simy, Dragus (71′ Vulic) (Festa, Mazzotta, Takubiv, Spolli, Crociata, Gomelt, Mustacchio, Rivière, Kargbo) Coach: Stroppa |
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MILAN (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernandez; Tonali (62′ Bennacer), Kessié; Brahim Diaz (83′ Krunic), Calhanoglu (83′ Rafael Leao), Saelemaekers (62′ Castillejo); Rebic (57′ Colombo) (Tatarusanu, A. Donnarumma, Kalulu, Paquetà, Laxalt, Krunic, Maldini) Coach: Pioli |
REFEREE: Mr. Zingarelli from Siena
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Marrone (C), Pioli, Gabbia, Hernandez (M); Extra Time: 1st Half 2′, 2nd Half 4′