AC MILAN EASE TO VICTORY OVER MONZA

What a win. AC Milan cruised past Monza, beating the Lombardy outfit 4-1 thanks in large part to dazzling displays from Brahim and Origi; the former bagged a brace while the latter scored on his first start for the Club. Leão, who came on in the second half, wrapped up the result late on. So it was a great evening, soured only by injuries to Dest, who was replaced at the break, and Díaz, who was the star of the game. The conditions of both players will be assessed in the coming days.

The result, following Díaz's opener in the 16th minute, was never in doubt and the team dictated the tempo of the game with aplomb; the guests' only goal came from a rather brilliant Ranocchia free-kick from range. As well as the aforementioned Brahim and Divock, Theo had a brilliant game, assisting AC Milan's fourth this evening. And it was an evening to remember for Ante Rebić who reached 100 appearances for the Club. The Rossoneri thus recorded their fourth straight win in Serie A, which is bound to give the team a much-needed confidence boost ahead of their all-important Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v MONZA

THE MATCH ACTION
The first opening quarter was a cagey affair with both sides studying each other, with no-one taking the initiative to make any real inroads. But that soon changed and it was the Rossoneri who struck the first blow, grabbing the opener from something out of nothing. After 15 minutes, Brahim brought Tătăruşanu’s ball down delightfully in the centre-circle; he split the away side’s defence in two running straight the middle of the pitch; Antov tried to recover but he was too late and Diaz poked the ball past Di Gregorio with his left. It was a stunning goal that unlocked the game, sparked the San Siro atmosphere and got the home side into their groove. Origi made his first impact on the game after 20 minutes, robbing the ball from Marí before playing in Ante, who set up Pobega but his shot was blocked as he was about to pull the trigger. After his assist, Tătă was decisive between the sticks, too, brilliantly keeping out Carlos Augusto’s header. Origi was dangerous again and went close just after the half-hour mark, firing a left-footed strike just wide of the post, after some good individual work opened up the chance for him. The lead was doubled four minutes from the end of the half, again thanks to Diaz who, after receiving the ball from Origi with his back to goal, spun his marker, Caldirola, and struck a right-footed shot across the keeper into the far post: 2-0!

At half-time, Dest made way for Kalulu and the Rossoneri immediately went close to adding a third through Rebić, but his shot was straight at Di Gregorio. De Ketelaere came on and it was he who offered Pobega the chance to make it 3-0, but Tommaso’s left-foot strike was high; Origi then played in Messias, but he shot high over the bar, too. The goal did eventually come for Divock, who after 65 minutes fired an unstoppable right-footed bullet into the top right-hand corner from the edge of the box to make it 3-0. Ranocchia reduced the deficit five minutes later from a stunning long-range free-kick, allowing Monza to increase the pressure earning them several good chances. But the Theo-Leão link once again ended the contest six minutes from the end, with the left-back feeding Rafa who powerfully hit the back of the net. In the closing stages, De Ketelaere had a great chance to grab his first goal for the Rossoneri, from Messias' lay-off, but couldn't quite find the right coordinates. In the end, it made no difference and it finished 4-1 to us.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 4-1 MONZA

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Tătăruşanu; Dest (46' Kalulu), Kjær (60' Gabbia), Tomori, Hernández; Bennacer, Pobega; Messias, Díaz (53' De Ketelaere), Rebić (60' Leão); Origi (78' Vranckx). Subs.: Jungdal, Mirante; Ballo-Touré, Thiaw; Adli, Bakayoko, Krunić, Tonali; Giroud. Coach: Pioli. 

MONZA (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Antov, Marí, Caldirola (54' Carboni); Ciurria, Barberis (46' Ranocchia), Sensi (66' Bondo), Carlos Augusto; Pessina, Caprari (66' Gytkjær); Mota Carvalho (57' Petagna). Subs.: Cragno, Sorrentino; Birindelli, Donati, Marlon; Bondo, Colpani, Machin, Valoti; D'Alessandro, Vignato. Coach: Palladino. 

Referee: Marinelli from Tivoli. 
Goal: 16' Díaz (M), 41' Díaz (M), 65' Origi (M), 70' Ranocchia (MZ), 84' Leão (M).
Booked: 30' Origi (M), 72' Bondo (MZ).

The PUMA AC Milan Kits for the 2022/23 season are available: get yours now!