AC MILAN v MONZA: TIME MACHINE

On Saturday, San Siro will host the first Lombardy derby against Monza in the top flight. For the Brianzoli it will be their first appearance to the Scala del Calcio in Serie A match but not their first ever trip to the home of the Rossoneri. The two teams last faced each other in a summer friendly on 5 September 2020 at AC Milan's ground. Let's take a trip in our Time Machine as we relive the events of this match.

SETTING THE SCENE
The transfer market preceding the 2020/2021 season brought young prospects such as Kalulu and Díaz to Milanello, together with the contract renewals of Kjær, Ibra, Rebić and Saelemaekers. Sandro Tonali would also join the Rossoneri a few days after the friendly at San Siro. This was Stefan Pioli's first full season in charge of the Rossoneri and their results had already offered a glimpse of what was to come after a 4-2 win in the friendly against Novara. Their second summer fixture brought Berlusconi and Galliani's Monza to San Siro, who had won Group A of the previous season's Serie C with former coach Brocchi, and were now preparing to take on Serie B for the first time in 19 years.

MALDINI AGAIN
AC Milan had to make do without several key players who were with their respective national teams and fielded a line-up full of young players. In defence, in front of Antonio Donnarumma, Duarte and Bellodi played in defence, assisted by Calabria and Theo Hernández on the flanks; with Bennacer and Kessie in midfield, Maldini in the trequartista role and Paquetá and Roback just behind Ibrahimović in attack. Calabria opened the scoring in the 5th minute with a rocket from outside the box that Lamanna couldn't keep out. The game was a lively one, Ibra forced a diving save from the Biancorossi goalkeeper whilst at the other end Antonio Donnarumma saved a troubling shot from Lepore. Monza held the field well and in the 22nd minute they equalised through Finotto, who followed up a long-distance strike from Paletta, another former Milanista. Ibra tried again, but it was Daniel Maldini who put Milan back in the lead with a beautiful shot on the turn.

DÍAZ'S DEBUT
During the second half Pioli resorted to numerous substitutions, bringing onto the field, among others, the youngsters Kalulu, Pobega, Colombo and Brahim Díaz, making his debut in the AC Milan shirt. The match hung in the balance for the entire second half until new recruit Kalulu got the better of Lamanna with a beautiful header across goal. There was still enough time in the second half for some Colombo magic, whose left-footed strike from distance found the top corner. The match ended 4-1, a good test that provided important indications ahead of a season that would see AC Milan's exciting journey towards second place and their return to the Champions League. 

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