Milan took to the pitch (loosely speaking) in Reggio Emilia for one of the final away games of the season. But today, the Rossoneri put on a masterclass in how not to play football.
First Half: Sassuolo in Control
The first half began with Sassuolo pressing high, which within just a few minutes allowed Berardi to break the deadlock. The Emilian side won most of their duels and were quick on the counter-attack. Nzola had a golden opportunity to double the lead in a one-on-one with Maignan, who made the only save of his afternoon. The Rossoneri lost numerous 1v1 battles between midfield and defence, attempting to create danger with through balls that came to nothing. The pressure was so relentless that, with the second half still to come, Tomori was shown a red card. To put it plainly, Milan managed their first shot on goal only at the very end of the first half.
Second Half: Milan Nowhere to Be Found
The second half opened with Sassuolo doubling their lead: a sleepy Milan defence caught napping and Laurienté made them pay. Sassuolo’s superiority was evident not only on the scoreboard, but also in the sheer number of duels won. Milan were simply not there — neither in terms of tempo nor chances created. As the game wore on, it increasingly resembled a pre-season friendly, with neither side showing any desire to change the current state of affairs.
Conclusions
Milan lose, then, without a goal scored, without any competitive edge and without the will to inject any meaning into this dying season.
