TIME MACHINE: AC MILAN v VENEZIA

The weekend ahead brings with it AC Milan's first home league match of the 2026/27 season, as Venezia visit San Siro for the Rossoneri's opening Serie A fixture in front of their own fans. A memorable previous meeting between the two sides at the stadium - one that still brings back happy memories - was in September 2021, when Pioli's AC Milan beat Venezia 2-0 thanks to goals from two players who would go on to become key figures in that season's Scudetto-winning campaign. In today's Time Machine, we look back at that evening.

The match began with a few changes to the usual starting XI, including the first appearances of the season for Pierre Kalulu and Fodé Ballo-Touré. AC Milan dictated the play throughout, patiently probing for a way through Paolo Zanetti's disciplined Venezia defence. Ante Rebić threatened as early as the fourth minute, forcing a save, before testing the goalkeeper again with a header after 24 minutes. An effort from Rafael Leão in the 36th minute and Alessandro Florenzi a minute later lifted the atmosphere at San Siro, but the sides went into the break with the score still goalless.

The second half opened with Tonali firing over after 5 minutes before Pioli shuffled his pack, introducing Theo Hernández, Fikayo Tomori and Alexis Saelemaekers. The changes proved decisive. In the 68th minute, Ismaël Bennacer released Theo down the left, and the French full-back delivered a superb cross that Brahim Díaz converted from close range to break the deadlock.

The goal opened the game up, and AC Milan sealed the win in the 82nd minute through Theo Hernández, who calmly guided a clinical left-footed finish into the corner to make it 2-0. The Rossoneri claimed their fourth league victory of the season, maintaining the outstanding momentum of their early Scudetto charge. Perhaps a positive omen, then, ahead of another meeting between AC Milan and Venezia, this time with the added pressure of it being AC Milan's first home match of the 2026/27 Serie A season.

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