Notes On A Response And 2-0 Win Vs Juventus

A twaeked line up had all three of Bennacer, Tonali and Pobega starting along with Diaz, Leao and Giroud up front. Kalulu, Gabbia, Tomori were at the back and Theo had returned from injury. Juve had Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik up front with absentees including Paul Pogba and the suspended Angel Di Maria.

Early minutes were somewhat muted and Leao Milan’s best first chance when his backheel hit the post. On the half hour mark Vlahovic with his hand tight to his body did divert the ball for a corner. In what is another example of, at best, confusing modern football rule that not a penalty. Leao hit the post again, this time with a low shot to the far corner.

A goal arrived right before half time. After Juan Cuadrado and Juve had complained about a Theo foul the Milan corner was played and a scrambled ball was shot close range in by Tomori.

Juventus made a change at half time bringing in Weston McKennie for Cuadrado. Milan doubled their lead soon after. A poor pass was nonchalantly dealt with therefore Diaz took on the ball and ran almost half the pitch through Juve’s defense and just beat Wojciech Szczesny.

Krunic replaced Pobega. With confidence high and Juve still not able to create the game moved forward. Rebic and De Ketelaere replaced Giroud and Diaz. With Theo way up the pitch a smart De Ketelaere ball came to him, his attempt to beat Szczesny was high when he could have perhaps crossed. Milik had Juventus’ best chance in a while but his header from a Danilo cross was easily handled by Tatarusanu. Milan continued to dominate the ball. Moise Kean replaced Vlahovic for the final 12 minutes as Juventus were still not having the best time on the ball in direct contrast to when the likes of Leao. Vranckx and Origi came on for Bennacer and Leao the final minutes.

A slight Kalulu intervention thwarted a Kean chance to keep the score 2-0 with the game heading into its final five minutes. Kean had another long range goes just high. Origi could have added a goal after he was fed by Rebic. His somewhat poor attempt was punched into a corner by Szczesny. In the ensuing corner tempers flared and three yellows were given out. Tonali, Kean and Leandro Paredes went into the books and the final whistle arrived soon after for an important three weeks at the end of a difficult week.