Milan Stage Stunning Comeback To Score Four To Juventus

A crazy night at the San Siro. Milan beat Juventus 4-2 to capture their fourth win in five games after the lock-down as the Bianconeri experienced an authentic blackout and gave away a two-goal lead. It was Milan’s first Serie A win over the black-and-whites in four years and the first time they scored four goals against them since 1988.

Far from saying that Juventus’ claim on the Scudetto is at risk, but Maurizio Sarri’s band went from potentially gaining a 10-point lead over second-placed Lazio – who unexpectedly lost 1-2 to Lecce earlier on Tuesday – to suddenly finding themselves fragile and doubtful like they had not been in years.

Milan-Juventus offered a goalless first half and an explosive second part of the game featuring six goals – four of which scored by Milan with four different men, a testament to Stefano Pioli’s good work done so far to restore the Rossoneri’s confidence little by little.  

Milan-Juventus also meant Zlatan Ibrahimovic versus Cristiano Ronaldo. It was likely the most awaited one-on-one battle of the whole Serie A season. The two superstars scored one goal each, but the three points went to the Rossoneri, who staged an incredible comeback to cancel Juventus’ double lead.

Juve became overconfident after scoring twice early in the second half but found themselves vulnerable as their defense plummeted into an unprecedented confused state. In retrospect, the Bianconeri paid a high price for Matthijs De Ligt’s absence as the Dutchman was serving a one-match ban. 

Milan's Lucas Paquetá battles with Daniele Rugani. After a disappointing first part of the season, the Brazilian midfielder seems to have found his form and has been one of the best Rossoneri since the restart
Milan’s Lucas Paquetá battles with Daniele Rugani. After a disappointing first part of the season, the Brazilian midfielder seems to have found his form and has been one of the best Rossoneri since the restart

Stefano Pioli was forced to renounce to Hakan Calhanoglu as the Turk was still recovering from an injury. His place was taken by Ante Rebic. The Croatian was deployed as a central striker, supported from the back by King Zlatan and the reconfirmed Lucas Paquetá and Alexis Saelemaekers. Pioli’s unexpected solution was placing Rebic rather than Ibrahimovic at the center of the attack.

For Juventus, De Ligt was replaced by Daniele Rugani, who joined Leonardo Bonucci in the middle of the defense. Paulo Dybala was also unavailable, so Maurizio Sarri’s attacking line was formed by Gonzalo Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Federico Bernardeschi.

The two teams came to the pitch accompanied by Ennio Morricone’s notes – a tribute to the Italian music genius who passed away on Monday.

A shot by Saelemakers was Milan’s first action after the Rossoneri evidenced themselves for a courageous start. In the 12th minute, Ronaldo suddenly woke up as he cut inward from the left side and exploded a vicious shot which Milan scrambled to deflect in the corner. That was the only reason CR7 made himself noticed in the first half – if one excludes his new haircut.

Ibra took nine more minutes for his first shot which comfortably ended in Wojciech Szczesny’s hands. He replicated in the 24th minute to finalize a fast team effort on the Rossoneri part, but his conclusion was again too weak and central.

Milan started more aggressively while Juventus progressively built up their tempo. Pioli’s side, however, managed to contain the Zebras until half time without running any major risk. The first 45 minutes ended with Ibrahimovic being disallowed a goal on grounds of offside.

Hakan Calhanoglu made his entrance after the break in place of Paquetá but found himself just in time to witness Adrien Rabiot breaking the deadlock with a true gem of a goal. The Frenchman powered a mesmerizing progression from the right side, dribbled Theo Hernandez like he was a slalom pole, moved towards the center, and concluded with an unstoppable left-foot screamer to draw first blood for the Bianconeri

Adrien Rabiot's was definitely the best goal the night, even if it proved to be of little help to the Bianconeri
Adrien Rabiot’s was definitely the best goal the night, even if it proved to be of little help to the Bianconeri (Photo: © FC Juventus)

Six minutes later, Juan Cuadrado found Cristiano Ronaldo with a perfectly-timed cross from behind the midfield line. Alessio Romagnoli and Simon Kjaer crashed into each other, making it a child play for the unmarked Portuguese to find the back of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s net.

The job seemed good and done for Maurizio Sarri’s squad, but a key episode in the 60th minute suddenly changed the fate of the game. Referee Marco Guida initially waved a yellow card at Ante Rebic believing the Croatian had hit the ball with his hand into Juve’s box. A VAR check, however, evidenced how Rebic had rather used his chest to make the ball bounce on Leonardo Bonucci’s stretched arm. Ibrahimovic buried the spot as Guida changed his decision into a penalty for Pioli’s side.

Juventus seemed to lose it for a moment, and a great team effort on Milan’s part put Frank Kessié in the middle of the box. The Ivorian’s progression was not as stunning as Rabiot’s, but the conclusion was similar and his powerful shot leveled off for Milan.

Ibrahimovic then gave way to Giacomo Bonaventura and, two minutes later, Rafael Leao – who had replaced Saelemaekers a few minutes earlier – saw the right spot and surprised Wojciech Szczesny on his near post, also in view of Daniele Rugani’s weak opposition. From the bench, Ibra smirked like a Jedi seeing his Padawan master the Force. Milan overturned the match in the space of 11 minutes. Incredible.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic smirks after burying the spot and initiating Milan's comeback. It's incredible how the simple presence of Ibra in the roster helped changing the Rossoneri's attitude since January
Zlatan Ibrahimovic smirks after burying the spot and initiating Milan’s comeback. It’s incredible how the simple presence of Ibra in the roster helped to change the Rossoneri’s attitude since January

Maurizio Sarri took extreme measures as he sent in Douglas Costa, Blaise Matuidi, and Aaron Ramsey all together. Last time he had made a triple change was against Milan in the Coppa Italia Semi-Final and he had eventually regretted his decision calling it a “screw-up,” but now all was fair.

Juventus, however, continued to suffer the Rossoneri counterattacks. Milan went close to make it four as a fast-break by Ante Rebic was saved by Szczesny with his foot and Rafael Leao failed to tap the ball in. Sarri realized that Juan Cuadrado was struggling to contain Hakan Calhanoglu’s accelerations on the left flank and replaced him with Alex Sandro.

The Bianconeri were still alive and in the 78th minute it took a super-save by Donnarumma to deny Daniele Rugani’s header. But the horror show of Juventus’ defense continued and offered another pearl two minutes later with a disastrous attempted clearance by Alex Sandro. Giacomo Bonaventura quickly took advantage of it to serve Ante Rebic an easy finish for Milan’s fourth and final goal. 

Cristiano Ronaldo tied Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s tally during stoppage time as he added a disallowed goal to his night share but the score didn’t change anymore and celebrations were all for Stefano Pioli and his band.

Milan might have already made a choice for next season as Ralf Rangnick is rumored to have agreed on a deal to manage the Rossoneri, but a game like this cannot but make one wonder whether the Parma-born coach might deserve another chance at the helm of the red-and-blacks…

Juventus players didn't even seem to believe it as they lost 2-4 to Milan. It was the fourth Serie A loss this season for the Bianconeri
Juventus players didn’t even seem to believe it as they lost 2-4 to Milan. This was the fourth Serie A loss this season for the Bianconeri

 

MATCH REPORT

July 7, 2020 – Serie A 2019-2020 Round 31
MILAN-JUVENTUS 4-2

SCORERS: 47′ Rabiot (J), 53′ Cristiano Ronaldo (J), 57′ Ibrahimovic (M, pen.), 66′ Kessié (M), 78′ Rafael Leao (M), 80′ Rebic (M)

MILAN (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Conti (82′ Calabria), Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Kessié, Bennacer; Saelemaekers (59′ Rafael Leao), Paquetà (46′ Calhanoglu), Rebic (82′ Krunic); Ibrahimovic (67′ Bonaventura) (Begovic, A. Donnarumma, Biglia, Colombo, Gabbia, Laxalt, Maldini) Coach: Pioli
JUVENTUS (4-3-3): Szczesny; Cuadrado (78′ Alex Sandro), Rugani, Bonucci, Danilo; Bentancur (94′ Muratore), Pjanic (70′ Ramsey), Rabiot (70′ Matuidi); Bernardeschi, Higuain (70′ Douglas Costa), Cristiano Ronaldo (Pinsoglio, Buffon, Chiellini, Olivieri, Coccolo, Vrioni) Coach: Sarri

REFEREE: Mr. Guida from Pompei
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Paquetà, Bennacer, Rebic, Conti (M), Bonucci (J); Extra Time: 1st Half 2′, 2nd Half 6′