Milan wrapped a convincing 3-0 win over Spezia on Sunday to gain a temporary Serie A lead alongside Atalanta – as they wait for the outcome of the tragicomic stalemate between Juventus and Napoli. A brace from Rafael Leao and a goal from Theo Hernandez got the job done for the Rossoneri who still needed more than 45 minutes to get the better of a tenacious Spezia side.
Stefano Pioli operated some sort of turnover after last Thursday’s exhausting effort in the Europa League Playoff. He deployed Rade Krunic and Sandro Tonali on the midfield line, with Brahim Diaz and Rafael Leao positioning themselves alongside Alex Saelemaekers behind lone striker Lorenzo Colombo.
For Spezia, Vincenzo Italiano substituted defender Claudio Terzi – who served a one-match ban – with Martin Erlic. Milan youth academy product Tommaso Pobega replaced injured Alessandro Deiola in midfield and Rafael de Andrade substituted Jeroen Zoet between the sticks for the same reason.
The match opened with Spezia’s Jacopo Sala offering a sample of fine defending as he providentially anticipated Rafael Leao and prevented him from shooting from point-blank range.
Italiano’s side did their homework well early in the game as Milan struggled to build up their play and had to restart from scratch many times, with Gianluigi Donnarumma aiming at finding his teammates with some long-range passes from the back.
Spezia’s pressure came close to bear fruit as the Milan keeper had to save from a chancy back-pass from Davide Calabria that risked finding the back of his own net. There were some bad news for Vincenzo Italiano, however, as in the 32nd his goal-scorer Andrey Galabinov had to leave the pitch because of a muscular strain. He was replaced by 19-year-old Atalanta loan Roberto Piccoli.
At half time, the scorecard still read nil-nil with neither Milan nor Spezia able to create any more serious threat to the opposition goal. The visitors could be quite happy as they had managed to keep the Rossoneri at bay.
In the second period, Pioli decided it was time to unleash Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turk took Lorenzo Colombo’s place. There was need for him indeed, as Calhanoglu would be the provider for Milan opener’s in the 56th minute as he whipped the ball into the box from a set piece and found Rafael Leao’s deadly tap-in.
There were more changes for the Rossoneri coach later on in the game. First, he re-constituted Milan’s usual midfield line as he sent in Frank Kessié and Ismael Bennacer. Then, he gave some playing time to Jans Petter Hauge as the Norwegian newcomer made his debut for the red-and-blacks in the 70th minute.
Five minutes later, Theo Hernandez doubled Milan’s lead with a goal of his: A sharp shot to the bottom right corner at the end of a powerful progression on the left flank after stealing the ball to Kevin Agudelo around the midfield line.
Then, it was Leao’s time again to hit the target as the Portuguese wrapped his 8th Serie A goal. Alex Saelemaekers crossed from the right, Frank Kessié headed the ball in the middle of the box, and Leao was again in the right position to find the back of the net with a point-blank range deflection.
Milan could taste the first place in the Serie A table for the first time in nine years. As for Spezia, it is not at the San Siro that they could expect to earn the points they need to stay clear of the drop zone. But Vincenzo Italiano could still be happy with the performance his boys put together in the first half.
MATCH REPORT
October 4, 2020 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 3
MILAN-SPEZIA 3-0
SCORERS: 56′ Rafael Leao, 75′ Hernandez, 78′ Rafael Leao
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MILAN (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Gabbia, Hernandez; Krunic (58′ Kessié), Tonali (58′ Bennacer); Saelemaekers, Brahim Diaz (70′ Hauge), Rafael Leao (83′ Maldini); Colombo (46′ Calhanoglu) (Tatarusanu, A. Donnarumma, Kalulu, Castillejo, Laxalt) Coach: Pioli |
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SPEZIA (3-5-2): Rafael; Sala Erlic, Chabot; Marchizza, Maggiore, Ricci (59′ Acampora), Pobega (77′ Mora); Verde (59′ Agudelo), Galabinov (32′ Piccoli), Gyasi (77′ Bartolomei) (Krapikas, Desjardins, Vignali, Dell’Orco, Bastoni, Agoume, Farias) Coach: Italiano |
REFEREE: Mr. Serra from Torino
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Calhanoglu (M), Ricci, Gyasi (S); Extra Time: 1st Half 3′, 2nd Half 3′