DEFEAT TO SASSUOLO AT SAN SIRO

AC Milan have once again tripped up. The excellent and incessant home crowd wasn’t enough to give the home side the necessary reaction to turn around a difficult period and current poor form. At San Siro, the game ended 5-2 in favour of the side from Emilia-Romagna. The result was heavily decided by two first-half goals in quick succession from Defrel and Frattesi, before a third by Berardi condemned the Rossoneri even more, making Giroud's goal in-between all but in vain. AC Milan had two goals disallowed for offside, but the home side’s comeback faltered in the second half, conceding two further goals, before Origi’s consolation at the end.

Coach Pioli rung the changes from the eleven that started last week at Olimpico, with Gabbia, Krunić, Rebić and De Ketelaere all earning starting berths for the first since Empoli at the start of October; Theo Hernández and Saelemaekers also returned to the lineup. For captain Calabria - who made his 200th appearance for the Club - and teammates, it is their fourth league defeat of the campaign, and one with few positives to be taken from. Next up is the derby, away to Inter, on Sunday 5 February at 20:45 CET; the perfect occasion to bounce back.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v SASSUOLO

MATCH REPORT
AC Milan started the game off with conviction and thought they had opened the scoring after only eight minutes, but Giroud’s finish, from a Theo cross, was cancelled out by VAR for offside. Sassuolo responded with Frattesi playing in Laurienté, whose powerful shot was well-saved by Tătăruşanu after 18 minutes. But the Rossoneri defence was all at sea and the hosts took a two-goal lead in quick succession: on 19 minutes, Berardi broke into the box and found Defrel free at the back stick to poke home into an empty net; two minutes later, Frattesi linked up well with Berardi and smashed home past Tătăruşanu at the near post to make it 2-0 for the Neroverdi. AC Milan replied immediately through Giroud halfway through the first half: Calabria’s lofted cross was met highest by the French striker, whose header looped into the far corner to beat Consigli and reduce the deficit. On the half-hour mark though, Sassuolo retook their two-goal advantage: Berardi attacking the near post from Traorè’s corner and heading home. The home side came back fighting, with two chances falling to Rebić, who firstly failed to connect from the edge of the box, and two minutes later was inches away from tapping in from close-range. The last piece of action before the half ended again came to the Croatian frontman, but his right-footed strike was blocked out by Consigli.

A minute into the second half and Laurienté got away from Calabria, who brought the French forward down in the box to give away a penalty. From the spot, the Frenchman picked himself and gave the visitors’ their fourth goal. The Rossoneri took the blow and looked for a way back, but the game frustratingly became tense. Ten minutes after the break, Tonali’s free-kick was flighted over the Neroverdi defence and found its way to Rebić, who on the half-volley beat Consigli, but again it was chalked off for offside after VAR intervention. On the hour mark, Leão tried to give some impetus to the fightback through his trademark left-wing runs, but again Rebić fired high over the bar after an assist from the Portuguese star. After 79 minutes, Sassuolo added to their tally: Berardi stole the ball of Theo Hernández and set up Henrique, whose left-footed hit flew into the bottom corner, beating Tătăruşanu again. Substitute Origi pulled one back with a curling shot from the edge of the box that flew into the top corner after 81 minutes, but it was too little too late to thrust any late comeback. It ended 2-5.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 2-5 SASSUOLO

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Tătăruşanu; Calabria, Gabbia, Kalulu, Hernández; Tonali, Krunić (70' Pobega); Saelemaekers (70' Messias), De Ketelaere (46' Leão), Rebić (70' Origi); Giroud. Subs: Mirante, Vásquez; Ballo-Touré, Kjær, Thiaw; Adli, Díaz, Vranckx. Coach: Pioli.

SASSUOLO (4-2-3-1): Consigli; Rogério, Erlić, Tressoldi, Marchizza (46' Kyriakopoulos); Frattesi (76' Thorstvedt), Obiang; Berardi (84' Ferrari), Traorè, Laurienté (76' Álvarez); Defrel (76' Henrique). Subs: Pegolo, Russo; Harroui, M. Lopez; Ceide, D'Andrea. Coach: Dionisi.

Referee: Giua from Olbia.
Goals: 19' Defrel (S), 21' Frattesi (S), 24' Giroud (M), 30' Berardi (S), 47' pen. Laurienté (S), 79' Henrique (S), 81' Origi (M).
Booked: 37' Tonali (M), 38' Berardi (S), 45'+4 Rebić (M), 46' Calabria (M), 53' Obiang (S), 61' Krunić (M), 61' Kyriakopoulos (S), 73' Frattesi (S), 87' Gabbia (M), 95' Pobega (M).

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