DEFEAT IN FLORENCE
Serie A
The Franchi has once again proved to be a bit of a bogey ground for the Rossoneri. As it was last year, AC Milan lost in Florence, this time ending a run of four straight victories in all competitions. Fiorentina won 2-1 thanks to goals from González and Jović. The hosts put in a mature performance and were by far the better team as Pioli's side failed to hit their usual heights. Hernández's injury-time goal proved to be little more than a consolation.
Following a fantastic month of February, March hasn't got off to the best of starts. The Rossoneri lacked impetus tonight and this slight stumble must not put our boys off in their push for Champions League qualification. After matchday 25, which is still yet to be fully played, AC Milan are on 47 points but have been overtaken by Lazio, who now occupy second place - ahead of the matches involving Inter and Roma. We now face a quick turnaround before the Rossoneri are back in action for one of the biggest games of the season: the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Tottenham in North London. With that first-leg lead, the quarters are well within reach. Forza ragazzi!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM FIORENTINA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
There was a return to the starting line-up for Bennacer, with De Ketelaere and Rebić both starting. An aggressive Fiorentina started hungry, trying to catch the Rossoneri on the break: ten minutes in and Thiaw stopped Ikoné at the end of a counter-attack, before Maignan pushed away Bonaventura’s free-kick from the edge of the box three minutes later. A quiet AC Milan were making some technical errors, and González wasn’t the first to capitalise on them, taking advantage after 18 minutes by hitting a low drive that Maignan had to save; it was Mike again soon after who kept out the Argentinian. Midway through the first half, there was big scare when Mandragora set González free, who then passed to Bonaventura, but his weak shot from in front of goal hit Maignan’s flying leg, giving Tomori the time to get back and clear away off the line. After 32 minutes, Giroud had the away side’s first real chance of the game, volleying Bennacer’s cross towards goal, but it was hit straight at Terracciano: a nice move and a good chance. The Rossoneri were growing into the game, with Terracciano getting just ahead of Rebić, before in stoppage-time Messias headed over at the far post after good work by De Ketelaere on the left.
The second half started off on the wrong foot and Ikoné’s pace caught Tomori by surprise, as the Englishman brought him down in the box after 49 minutes. The referee deemed it a penalty and up stepped González to send Maignan thr wrong way and give the Viola the lead. The Rossoneri responded well to going one down, attacking with more urgency but finding an inspired Terracciano in their way: two minutes after the goal, he kept out Giroud’s header from a corner, Rebić’s right-foot effort a few minutes later, and blocked Hernández’s shot, after a long through ball from Tomori. A triple change came midway through the half, with Ibrahimović, Origi and Bakayoko entering to try and get something from the game. But it was the home side who came closest to scoring next: on 67’ Dodô dribbled through on goal but was stopped by Maignan, before Bonaventura sent one wide a minute later. More drama came when Di Bello blew for a second penalty of the night, this time in favour of the Rossoneri for an alleged handball by Cabral, but VAR rightly overruled the decision. But just three minutes before the end of normal time, Jović grabbed the home side’s second, heading home from Dodô’s inch-perfect cross. At the end, Ibrahimović tried to salvage something, before Hernández, at the death, reduced the deficit smashing home powerfully from close range. But the fightback was too little, too late, and it ended 2-1.
MATCH DETAILS
FIORENTINA 2-1 AC MILAN
FIORENTINA (4-2-3-1): Terracciano; Dodô, M. Quarta, Igor, Biraghi (74' Ranieri); Amrabat (91' Barák), Mandragora; González (91' Sottil), Bonaventura (81' Castrovilli), Ikoné; Cabral (81' Jović). Subs: Cerofolini, Sirigu; Milenković, Venuti; Bianco, Duncan, Saponara; Brekalo, Kouamé. Coach: Italiano.
AC MILAN (3-4-3): Maignan; Kalulu, Thiaw, Tomori; Messias (74' Saelemaekers), Tonali, Bennacer (66' Bakayoko), Hernández; De Ketelaere (83' Adli), Giroud (66' Ibrahimović), Rebić (66' Origi). Subs: Mirante, Tătărușanu; Ballo-Touré, Calabria, Dest, Florenzi, Kjær; Pobega, Vranckx. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Di Bello from Brindisi.
Goals: 49' pen. González (F), 87' Jović (F), 95' Hernández (M).
Booked: 11' Thiaw (M), 29' Cabral (F), 35' Messias (M), 59' Ikoné (F), 70' González (F), 80' Kalulu (M).
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