NOVARA BEATEN 4-2 AT MILANELLO

Following today's friendly, the Rossoneri's pre-season ends, in terms of matches (four wins and 20 goals scored), but training will continue as the final preparations take place ahead of the new Serie A season. The day after turning over Étoile du Sahel, AC Milan beat Novara 4-2 at Milanello with goals coming from Chukwueze, Okafor, Calabria and Colombo. Pioli changed the starting eleven from yesterday to give every member of his squad minutes on the pitch.

Some important and positive signs came out of the game against the Lega Pro side from Piedmont: from the strikes of Chukwueze and Okafor to those of Calabria and Colombo, as well as a debut for Musah and an appearance for young Bartesaghi. Overall, it is a squad that is ready for the opener next week. The group have a two-day break and resume training on Wednesday. But the most important date in the calendar is Monday 21 August, when matchday 1 of the 2023/24 Serie A season kicks off for the Rossoneri at the Dall'Ara against Bologna at 20:45 CEST. We're nearly there; the serious business starts shortly.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY OF AC MILAN v NOVARA

MATCH REPORT

AC Milan started brightly, moving the ball around the pitch freely. Chukwueze was inspired: inside two minutes, he played a long ball for Romero, who fired straight at Desjardins, and two minutes later his shot was deflected behind. From the resulting corner, Pobega flicked on, but Kjær couldn't react quick enough and headed over from close range. The Nigerian broke the deadlock, though, on nine minutes taking advantage of a loose throw-in, rouding the keeper and slotting into an empty net. The lead was doubled on the 15-minute mark: Florenzi found Romero, whose cross was turned towards goal by Chukwueze, but it was well saved by Desjardins; on the rebound following up was Okafor, who smashed it home. A Pobega header tested Desjardins after 19 minutes, before Novara reduced the deficit just after the half-hour mark: Burić put a ball into the box, Kjær failed to clear it away giving Corti a tap-in. The Diavolo soon took back control: after 34 minutes, Romero shot powerfully but off-target, then Florenzi fired over a minute later. Chukwueze went of a mazy, dribbling run but couldn't finish it off two minutes before the interval and Okafor, played in by Bartesaghi, missed by inches as the half-time whistle blew. 

The second half opened up with a misplaced backpass by Florenzi, but Rossetti, bearing down on goal, put his shot wide. After that scare, the Rossoneri grabbed their third of the day on 55 minutes thanks to a stunning strike from Calabria, who advanced forward to the edge of the box and let fly with his left to find the back of the net. As the game drew on, the players inevitably got tired and the pace slowed, even if chances were still being made: after 56 minutes, Colombo tried his luck; Caradonna had an effort on the hour mark; Boscolo denied Chukwueze a minute later, and Nava saved Rossetti's free-kick after 69 minutes. The Biancoblu pulled another goal back on 82 minutes, again from some rather lapse Rossoneri defending: Pobega allowing Prinelli an easy opportunity to score. In the final few minutes, though, Colombo wrapped things up two minutes before the end to give AC Milan a four-goal haul: a ball up to him fell kindly and he twisted and volleyed the ball from the edge of the box into the left-hand corner of the goal. It ended 4-2.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 4-2 NOVARA

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Mirante (46' Nava); Calabria, Kjær (87' Simić), Bartesaghi, Florenzi; Musah (87' Zeroli), Adli, Pobega; Chukwueze (87' Traorè), Okafor (46' Colombo), Romero. Subs: Sportiello; Jiménez, Nsiala; Eletu, Saelemaekers. Coach: Pioli.

NOVARA (4-3-3): Desjardins (61' Boscolo) (87' Menegaldo); Caradonna (73' Saidi), Bonaccorsi (73' Bertoncini), Scaringi (73' Khailoti), Migliardi (73' Ranieri); Bagatti (73' Prinelli), Di Munno (73' Gerbino), Fragomeni (73' Donadio); Burić (46' Gerardini), Rossetti (73' Scappini), Corti (73' Valenti). Subs: Boccia, Martinazzo; Catania. Coach: Buzzegoli.

Referee: Gualtieri from Asti.
Goals: 9' Chukwueze (M), 15' Okafor (M), 31' Corti (N), 55' Calabria (M), 82' Prinelli (N), 88' Colombo (M).

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