Milan 1-3 Sassuolo Notes On A Worrying Home Loss

Maignan was back starting way ahead of schedule. The line up was also changed elsewhere, at least partially due to the extremely busy fixture list. Bakayoko and Bennacer started as pivots and Florenzi at right back.

The early minutes were dominated by Milan and resulted in three Ibra offsides and one Theo offside. Chances were squandered until a well worked corner kick had Romagnoli head in at the near post. Andrea Consigli was unable to keep the captain’s header out.

The game turned after that. Bakayoko didn’t control the ball well. Ginaluca Scamacca picked up the ball and with lots of space shot hard into the top corner of the goal. Maignan barely moved. Sassuolo scored again. An unnecessary corner given away by Bennacer was not cleared. The same Scamacca, free again, shot at Maignan and the rebound rebounded back into goal off of Kjaer’s back. The visitors were controlling the game and half ended with Milan’s game plan in limbo.

Messias and Kessie came on for Diaz and Bakayoko to start the second. Little looked changed – with one notable difference that Saelemaekers would pop up in a left midfield position. The team looked wasteful and clumsy. Tonali came on for Bennacer a bit later.

Ibra had a shot miss the far side in the 63rd minute. But it was Sassuolo that scored next. Kessie cleared poorly then gave away the ball seconds later. Romagnoli fell on himself trying to defend Berardi and the latter beat Maignan. Another Milan shot barely missed. Pellegri came on for Florenzi in search for offense.

The collapse was made official when Romagnoli was unable to deal with Gregoire Defrel in a 1v1 situation and brought the attacker down. He was sent off and his well documented weakness was in plain view. The midfield was of no help to the defenders. Kalulu replaced Saelemaekers to finish the game.

The manner of the 1-3 home loss had many justifiably worried. The busy schedule would provide little time for recovery.