The first game of Milan’s 2024-2025 Serie A season kicked off at home against Torino. Both teams head into this game with new coaches and changes within their squads. The clubs last met in Turin in the second-to-last game of the 2023-2024 season, with Il Toro winning 3-1.
Starting Lineups
Paulo Fonseca continued with the typical Stefano Pioli 4-2-3-1 with various changes to the starting XI. Ruben Loftus Cheek moved back into the double pivot. Christian Pulisic shifted inside from the wing to the number ten slot, and Samuel Chukwueze earned a rare starting spot in the Rossoneri starting XI.
Alexis Saelemaeker’s positive pre-season was rewarded with a start at left-back. At the same time, Euro 2024 winner Alvaro Morata watched from the bench as Serbian forward Luka Jovic started the game as the lone forward.
Paolo Vanoli took charge of his first Serie A game as Torino boss without making wholesale changes to the starting squad. The critical change was Saul Coco, who replaces the departing Alessandro Buongiorno, who completed a move to Napoli in the summer.
First half: Torino Stun Milan
Milan started brightly with a Rafael Leao effort flashing wide of the goal in the fifth minute after American playmaker Christian Pulisic forged the opportunity. In the 16th minute, Christian Pulisic forced a good save from Milinkovic-Savic as the Serbian stopper denied his strike.
Heading into the midway point of the first half, Milan began to pile on the pressure, pinning Torino back in their half as they threatened to create chances.
Despite the Milanese pressure, Torino took the lead after Duvan Zapata’s clipped cross was sent into the box; Raoul Bellanova’s headed effort was adjudged to have crossed the line by the referee, putting the visitors 1-0 up at San Siro.
On the stroke of half time, Ivan Ilic sent a curling effort towards the far post, which French stopper Mike Maignan got a hand to.
Second Half: Milan Snatch a Point at the Death
No changes were made by either side heading into the start of the second half.
Milan started positively, with Christian Pulisic firing wide in the 50th minute. In the 63rd minute, San Siro thought Coco brought down Morata as he was about to pull the trigger. However, the penalty was waived, and a drop ball was awarded instead.
Against the run of play, Lazaro’s good work on the left wing was rewarded as Duvan Zapata headed in from close range, putting Torino 2-0 up in Milan.
Immediately after Torino’s second goal, Christian Pulisic sent his driven shot over the bar from the edge of the box. Morata thought he scored for Milan after pushing a rebounded shot past Milinkovic Savic, but the linesman flagged it offside.
Tijiani Reijnders’s defence-splitting ball was miscontrolled by Leao as the Milan squad’s frustration increased.
Persistence paid off. In the 89th minute, Morata guided Reijnders’ shot into the net to bring Milan within a goal of the visitors. In the 5th minute of injury time, Milan completed their comeback when Noah Okafor connected with Yunas Musah’s floated cross.