A POINT APIECE FOR AC MILAN AND SASSUOLO
Serie A
It was an eventful Sunday afternoon at San Siro. AC Milan played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Sassuolo, as both sides went in search of a win to bolster their respective league campaigns. However, the Rossoneri and Neroverdi had to settle for a point apiece, which only slightly moves the chains. Allegri's side, however, kept up their form, as they extended their unbeaten run in the league, though it will have left a bitter taste in the mouth.
For the Rossoneri, it will be remembered as the afternoon of one Davide Bartesaghi, who scored either side of half-time to overturn Sassuolo's early lead, provided by Koné. Bartesaghi netted his first two goals in Serie A, so it's a special day for one of our own, a product of our youth system. A beautiful Sassuolo goal, finished by Laurienté, put a dampener on our final home game before Christmas. The Rossoneri's league campaign will get back underway against Hellas Verona on Sunday, 28 December, with another 12:30 CET kick-off. Before then, we have a Supercoppa title to defend, starting with the semi-final against Napoli.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v SASSUOLO
MATCH REPORT
AC Milan made a bright start to proceedings: just 13 seconds in, Saelemaekers took a shot from the edge of the box, but the ball sailed over. In the third minute, Walukiewicz made a crucial intervention to thwart Pulisic in the six-yard box, and moments later Nkunku fired wide. The Rossoneri were seeing plenty of the ball, but Sassuolo struck with their first real chance: Koné combined well with Pinamonti before dinking it over Maignan for the opener (13’). The next few minutes saw AC Milan look for openings without, however, really troubling Murić. That changed in the 29th minute, when Rabiot won the ball from Fadera in the final third, only for his shot to be saved by the Sassuolo goalkeeper. AC Milan’s persistence paid off in the 34th minute: a low cross from Loftus-Cheek found Bartesaghi, who levelled things up at the back post. Three minutes later, a curling effort from Saelemaekers finished off target. It was a highly intense end to the half, but no further clear-cut chances were created.
The second half started in perfect fashion for AC Milan, as Davide Bartesaghi added another chapter to his magical afternoon, converting Nkunku’s assist to make it 2-1 (47’). Sassuolo didn’t give up: in the 62nd minute, Maignan produced a fantastic point-blank stop to thwart Thorstvedt. After a spell of end-to-end action, Laurienté finished a flowing team move to make it 2-2. The final stages were intense. In the 88th minute, Laurienté went close again, but his strike on the counter hit the post with Maignan beaten. San Siro raised the decibels in support, but during seven minutes of added time, no AC Milan attempt - including Nkunku’s effort in the 96th minute - could break through Sassuolo’s defence and Murić in goal. The match ended 2-2.
MATCH DETAILS
AC MILAN 2-2 SASSUOLO
AC MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia (60' De Winter), Pavlović; Saelemaekers (90'+1 Athekame), Loftus-Cheek, Modrić, Rabiot, Bartesaghi (90'+1 Estupiñan); Nkunku, Pulisic (73' Ricci). Subs: Pittarella, Terracciano; Odogu; Jashari. Coach: Allegri.
SASSUOLO (4-3-3): Murić; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muhamerović, Candé (59' Doig); Thorstvedt, Matić, Koné; Volpato (86' Cheddira), Pinamonti (86' Moro), Fadera (59' Laurientié). Subs: Satalino, Zacchi; Coulibaly, Odenthal; Iannoni, Lipani, Vranckx; Pierini. Coach: Longo (Grosso suspended).
Referee: Crezzini from Siena.
Goals: 13' Koné (S), 34' and 47' Bartesaghi (M), 77' Laurienté (S).
Booked: 23' Fadera (S), 23' Loftus-Cheek (M), 59' Muhamerović (S), 66' Thorstvedt (S).
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