THREE GOALS, THREE POINTS
europa league
Two wins from two, three goals in each game and six points already in the bank. AC Milan's good start to their Europa League campaign continued today as the Rossoneri coasted home to a 3-0 win over Sparta Praha at San Siro. The three goals were all scored by players born in 1999. Díaz opened the scoring after Ibra's (who missed a penalty in the first half) assist, Leão doubled AC Milan's lead and Dalot wrapped it up with the third - his first goal for the Club. The game looked destined to be won by the Rossoneri from the first few minutes. Stefano Pioli's men never really looked in trouble as they have now taken points from 23 consecutive games, a run that is extended from the good form of the post-lockdown period at the end of last season. In spite of numerous changes in the starting line-up, AC Milan never lost their rhythm or their intensity. They maintained high levels of concentration throughout the 90 minutes in a stellar team performance. After the draw between Lille and Celtic, the Rossoneri are now top of Group H before they welcome the French side to San Siro next Thursday, 5 November at 21:00 CET. First, though, we return to action in Serie A: on Sunday at 12:30 CET, AC Milan take on Udinese away from home.
MATCH REPORT
The Rossoneri took an offensive approach from the get-go and could have taken an instant lead through Krunić, who was released by Bennacer's cut-back. In the 6th minute, Ibra rose to meet Calabria's cross but couldn't guide his effort on target. The Rossoneri deservedly got their noses in front in the 24th minute. Brahim won the ball in midfield, played a one-two with Ibra and finished the slick move with a well-placed shot, putting the ball through Heča's legs to make it 1-0. The chance for AC Milan to double their lead came ten minutes later: Ibrahimović won the penalty after being brought down by Lischka but he put the spot-kick over the crossbar. Sparta began to grow in confidence and push into the AC Milan box, without ever really causing our backline any big problems.
Leão started the second half in place of Ibra and the Rossoneri immediately created a chance. The Portuguese forward's shot was straight at Heča, who parried the ball away - Tonali couldn't turn home the rebound. But it was only a matter of time before AC Milan got their second. In the 57th minute, Bennacer spread the ball out wide with a fantastic cross-field pass to Dalot, who put in an exquisite cross with the outside of his foot for Leão, who only had to tap it home. And after his first assists for AC Milan, Dalot got his first goal for the Club. Bennacer found Dalot with another sumptuous ball and the young left-back beat Heča to make it 3-0 (66'). After the third goal, it was only a formality. This was the Rossoneri's second consecutive win in Group H.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 3-0 SPARTA PRAHA
AC Milan (4-2-3-1): Tătăruşanu; Calabria (68' Conti), Kjær, Romagnoli (80' Duarte), Dalot; Bennacer (81' Kessie), Tonali; Castillejo, Díaz, Krunić; Ibrahimović (46' Leão). Subs.: A. Donnarumma, Moleri; Duarte, Hernández, Kalulu; Çalhanoğlu, Saelemaekers; Colombo, Maldini. Coach: Pioli.
Sparta Praha (4-3-2-1): Heča; Sáček, Lischka (80' Plechatý), Čelůstka, Hanousek; Trávník (80' Karabec), Pavelka, Vindheim; Dočkal, L. Krejčí (63' Moberg Karlsson); Juliš (63' Kozák). Subs.: Kotek, Niță; Hložek, Plavšić, Polidar, Wiesner, Vitík, Patrac. Coach: Kotal.
Referee: Özkahya (TUR).
Goal: 24' Díaz (M), 57' Leão (M), 66' Dalot (M).
Booked: 28' Dočkal (S), 36' Lischka (S), 52' Pavelka (S).
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