After a below-par debut against Benfica, AC Milan travel to Salzburg to claim their first 3 points of this Europa League campaign. Despite an inconsistent performance in terms of rhythm, the Rossoneri secured the win thanks to the flashes of brilliance from their attacking talents.
First Half
The match started at a slow pace, with few chances but ones that proved decisive. On the quarter-hour mark, Milan broke the deadlock with a header inside the six-yard box. Amorim’s men took advantage of the momentum and shortly after created 2 clear chances, through Hutchinson and Loftus-Cheek. For the remainder of the first half, genuine goalscoring opportunities were sparse. Despite plenty of movement from end to end, the game remained dull and lifeless. That was until, following a perfectly weighted through ball from Rabiot and a precise touch from Bartesaghi, Cissé once again made it 2-0 for the Rossoneri. Yet even this was an isolated moment of quality in an otherwise forgettable first half.
Second Half
The second half picked up right where the first left off. Early in the second period, Cissé completed his first career hat-trick, capitalising on one of the few attacking moves that resulted in a shot on goal. Milan alternated between high-intensity bursts, in which they hit on the counter when possible, and passive phases, in which they rarely risked anything, sitting back and protecting the lead. Chances were few and far between, but that didn’t stop Amorim’s side from finding the net again. Gonzalo Ramos made it 4-0, taking advantage of a defensive lapse and a recovery from Jashari. There was just enough time for a couple of off-target efforts before the final whistle confirmed AC Milan’s first European victory of the season.
Conclusion
This emphatic win, despite a frequently underwhelming performance in terms of intensity, confirms that the potential to achieve great things this season is very much there. They just need to keep scoring.
