AC MILAN v SPEZIA: TIME MACHINE

4 October 2020: on matchday 3, a league heavily affected by the pandemic offered an all-time first encounter in the top flight. In fact, AC Milan could boast their previous encounter with Spezia; a 3-0 win in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 in January 2014, but in today's Time Machine we relive the first Serie A encounter with the Ligurians.

THE SCENARIO
Pioli's AC Milan, who was confirmed at the head of the team after last season's excellent finish which earned them sixth place in the standings, has received new lifeblood from the summer market: the coach can count on a mix of experienced players and young talents, joining an already solid group. The Rossoneri made a great start to the league, beating Bologna and Crotone 2-0, while in the Europa League they managed to pass the two-legged qualifying round, thus gaining access to the group stage. Spezia, on the other hand, are fresh from their historic first promotion to Serie A, and under the guidance of Italiano they achieved a convincing away win over Udinese after being defeated at home by Sassuolo in their debut match.

A GOALLESS FIRST HALF
Returning from their Europa League duties with Rio Ave, AC Milan had to deal with the notable absences of Romagnoli, Rebić and Ibrahimović and lined up a young, reshuffled formation, with Kjær and Calabria in the centre of defence and Saelemaekers, Díaz and Leão supporting the lone striker Colombo. Among the Bianconeri, Tommaso Pobega - who arrived in Liguria on loan from AC Milan - was on the pitch from the first minute in their midfield trio. The hosts took control of the game from the kick-off, but the Rossoneri's efforts did not produce any real threat to Rafael's goal for the entire first half. The best chances came at the feet of Díaz and Saelemaekers, but they both missed the target. In the final minutes, there was a chill among the San Siro crowd when Verde tried to strike on the counter, but Donnarumma was alert and sent the visitors into the locker room with the score at 0-0.

RAFA AND THEO SEND AC MILAN TO THE TOP
At the start of the second half, Brahim Díaz fired the Rossoneri into action with an effort of his own, but the Spaniard's shot flayed just wide. No harm done, because a few minutes later AC Milan went ahead through Leão, who deftly headed the ball into the net. The second came with a display of physical presence from Theo Hernández: Winning the ball, the French full-back burst past Agudelo on the half-way line, sprinting towards the box and slotting it into the bottom corner with a clinical shot across goal. For both Rafa and Theo it was their first goals of the season. However, there was still time for a third at San Siro: running down the right, Saelemaekers produced a long cross to find Kessie who set up another tap-in for Leão, scoring his first double for the Rossoneri. AC Milan therefore climbed to nine points, tied at the top of the table with Atalanta and two points ahead of Sassuolo, Inter and Juventus. 

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