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MILAN (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Gabbia, Hernandez; Krunic (70’ Pobega), Tonali; Saelemaekers (70’ Messias), De Ketelaere (46’ Rafael Leao), Rebic (70’ Origi); Giroud (Vasquez, Mirante, Ballo-Touré, Adli, Brahim Diaz, Kjaer, Thiaw, Vranckx) Coach: Pioli |
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SASSUOLO (4-2-3-1): Consigli; Marchizza (46’ Kyriakopoulos), Erlić, Tressoldi, Rogério; Frattesi (76′ Thorstvedt), Obiang, Traorè; Berardi (84’ Ferrari), Defrel (76’ Henrique), Laurienté (76’ Alvarez) (Pegolo, Russo; Ferrari; Harroui, M. Lopez, Ceide, D’Andrea) Coach: Pioli |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Tonali, Rebic, Calabria, Krunic, Gabbia, Giroud, Pobega (M), Obiang, Kyriakopoulos, Frattesi, Tressoldi (S); Added Time: 1st Half 4′, 2nd Half 6′
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Relegation-battling Sassuolo ended a nightmarish eight-match winless run in Serie A with a thumping 5-2 win at reigning champions Milan. On the other hand, another embarrassing display from the home side threw their top-four hopes into doubt.
Milan headed into proceedings amid a rough patch, facing the risk of going winless in six consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time since 2018. Stefano Pioli rang several changes to his favorite starting line-up after overseeing three straight league games without winning (D2, L1).
Headline performer Rafael Leao was left on the bench following a dip in form, with Pioli handing Charles De Ketelaeare a rare Serie A start. Tactical alterations, including Ante Rebic’s return to the starting XI, paid off almost instantly. But it was regular first-team stalwarts to deliver the goods.
Theo Herandez found Olivier Giroud with a superb lofted pass, with the French frontman slotting home to put Milan in front only nine minutes into the game. Unfortunately for the Rossoneri, referee Antonio Guia received instructions from the VAR room to overturn the goal for offside in the build-up play.
Stunned by a disallowed goal, Milan collapsed in an instance, conceding twice within a space of three minutes. Domenico Berardi teed up Gregoire Defrel on the far post, with the Frenchman stabbing home from point-blank to put Sassuolo in front.
Alessio Dionisi’s team doubled their lead moments later. Berardi embraced the assistant role again, picking out Davide Frattesi with a trough ball and the latter beating Ciprian Tatarusanu on the near post to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.
Milan swiftly managed to recover and cut Sassuolo’s celebrations short as Giroud stepped up to the plate for the second time of asking. Davide Calabria found a pocket of space to whip in an inch-perfect cross, with the veteran striker connecting his header to it to beat Andrea Consigli from an acute angle.
While Milan fans hoped a comeback could be on the cards, Tatarusanu was caught off guard again only six minutes after Giroud’s strike. Hamed Traore sent in another inviting cross from the resulting corner, with Berardi turning from an assist provider into a poaching striker. The Italian winger beat his men in the air, finding the back of the net with a towering header.
His goal threw Milan into disarray for the remainder of the first half. Ante Rebic came close to pulling one back for the hosts, but his half-volley ended up in Consigli’s welcoming arms on the stroke of halftime.
Without Mike Maignan and Fikayo Tomori, Milan’s defense looked as fragile as it gets, as the Rossoneri conceded three first-half goals for the first time under Pioli. De Ketelaere was invisible in the first half and was unsurprisingly withdrawn at halftime in favor of Leao.
However, it paid no dividend as Sassuolo landed the hammering blow two minutes after the break. Calabria made a reckless challenge inside the box, with referee Guia immediately pointing to the spot. Sought-after youngster Armand Lauriente struck home to give Dionisi’s side a sailing lead.
Milan thought they pulled one back with Rebic, as Sandro Tonali delivered a perfect free-kick into the Croat’s stride, with the out-of-sorts forward slotting home. However, VAR disallowed his goal for offside.
Things went from bad to worse for Milan in the 75th minute. Berardi completed a hat-trick of assists as Matheus Henrique scored Sassuolo’s fifth off the bench. Second-half substitute Divock Origi mitigated the damage with a world-class finish from outside the box to put second on the board for the hosts.
MATCH SCORECARD
January 29, 2023 – Serie A 2022-23 Round 20
MILAN – SASSUOLO 2-5
SCORERS: 19′ Defrel (S), 21′ Frattesi (S), 24′ Giroud (M), 30′ Berardi (S), 47′ Laurienté (S, pen.), 79′ Henrique (S), 81′ Origi (M)
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MILAN (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Gabbia, Hernandez; Krunic (70’ Pobega), Tonali; Saelemaekers (70’ Messias), De Ketelaere (46’ Rafael Leao), Rebic (70’ Origi); Giroud (Vasquez, Mirante, Ballo-Touré, Adli, Brahim Diaz, Kjaer, Thiaw, Vranckx) Coach: Pioli |
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SASSUOLO (4-2-3-1): Consigli; Marchizza (46’ Kyriakopoulos), Erlić, Tressoldi, Rogério; Frattesi (76′ Thorstvedt), Obiang, Traorè; Berardi (84’ Ferrari), Defrel (76’ Henrique), Laurienté (76’ Alvarez) (Pegolo, Russo; Ferrari; Harroui, M. Lopez, Ceide, D’Andrea) Coach: Pioli |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Tonali, Rebic, Calabria, Krunic, Gabbia, Giroud, Pobega (M), Obiang, Kyriakopoulos, Frattesi, Tressoldi (S); Added Time: 1st Half 4′, 2nd Half 6′
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Follow us on Google News for more updates on Serie A and Italian football |