AC Milan Secure Hard-Fought Victory Against Sassuolo
ICARO Media Group
AC Milan managed to grind out a victory against Sassuolo at San Siro on Saturday evening, in a match that was far from a spectacular performance. The triumph was sealed by a moment of brilliance from Ismael Bennacer and Christian Pulisic, who combined to deliver the winning goal.
In terms of individual performances, Milan's goalkeeper Mike Maignan had a decent game, making a couple of good stops and avoiding any major errors. He was not heavily tested by Sassuolo's attacking threats, with the exception of a first-half effort from Domenico Berardi.
Defender Davide Calabria put in a solid shift on both ends of the pitch, although there were some instances where he could have been more effective while driving forward with the ball. Similarly, Simon Kjaer had an average day in defense, without making any significant impact.
The French left-back Theo Hernandez continues to adapt to the position, and he performed well overall against Sassuolo. He made a couple of impressive sprinting interceptions, showcasing his defensive abilities. Alessandro Florenzi also had a decent game, providing good defensive cover on Milan's left side and contributing with a few decent efforts in attack.
Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek was expected to offer more going forward but fell short of expectations. He lacked the incisiveness that he is capable of, leaving Milan wanting more from him. On the other hand, Ismael Bennacer played a crucial role for the team, providing the decisive assist with a well-placed pass. His passing accuracy was on point, although it was not a flashy performance overall.
Teun Koopmeiners, also known as Reijnders, displayed his skills in passing, similar to Bennacer. However, the Dutchman must improve in the final third, as his shooting let him down once again in this match.
Christian Pulisic, named the Man of the Match, may not have had an outstanding overall performance, but he once again proved his worth for AC Milan. He showcased his clinical finishing ability with a composed goal, resulting from a great run behind the defense. Though his contribution could have been more substantial, his goal ultimately secured the victory for the Rossoneri.
The veteran forward Olivier Giroud had a quiet game, with limited involvement, leading to him being substituted after 63 minutes. Similarly, Rafael Leao was unable to make a significant impact, losing out in several duels and lacking the final touch when necessary.
In the later stages of the match, Adli, Jovic, Zeroli, Simic, and Chukwueze were introduced as substitutes, with Zeroli making his debut for AC Milan. However, none of them had enough time on the pitch to leave a significant impact.
Despite the victory, AC Milan's overall performance left much to be desired. The team struggled to demonstrate the quality they possess against a Sassuolo side that has been conceding an average of two goals per game recently. Relying on individual brilliance, such as that of Pulisic, should not be the sole solution for the team's success.
In conclusion, AC Milan secured a hard-fought victory against Sassuolo, with Ismael Bennacer and Christian Pulisic providing the key moment of brilliance. While the performance may not have been outstanding, Milan will be relieved to get back to winning ways after a lackluster period.