If something happens once, it can be written off. If it happens again, it is worthy of notice. But if it happens three or more times, it is a problem, and cannot be ignored. Allegri has this Milan performing remarkably well, particularly in light of the very thin squad and the injuries we have faced. However, dropping points yet again to a newly promoted side with this 2-2 draw with Sassuolo is a huge red flag for our season. Because most of our dropped points have come against these sides which we should (on paper) be dominating. Each match has its own list of issues, but since it keeps happening, we have an Allegri problem.
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| No striker? No problem. Bartesaghi opened his account with a brace. |
We knew ahead of this match that it could be tricky. Allegri made note of it in his prematch press conference, too. Sassuolo have notably been a problem for Milan for many years, too. But after going ahead, conceding the equalizer felt more like a chronic disease than just a coincidence. And it's not like we even started out with the lead, we conceded an Ismaël Koné goal in just the 13th minute. 1-0 Sassuolo. Six minutes later, Allegri already had his jacket off.
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| A tough pill to swallow for a team who need to be in the top four in May. |
Tomori took a knock, which was insanely worrying. Then Crezzini, a relatively inexperienced referee, made one good decision by showing a card to Loftus-Cheek for a foul after another one for Fadera on Pavlović in the 23rd minute, after having correctly allowed play to continue. That might have been his best decision of the night, his performance went way downhill from there.
Modrić took a couple of shots, but they did not trouble Murić too much. Then Rabiot forced Murić into back to back saves in the 29th minute. But it was five minutes later that Bartesaghi decided to make himself known. He scored a great goal from an impossible angle after a Loftus-Cheek cross, his first goal for Milan, to equalize. 1-1 all. Having attended the friendly where he debuted with the first team (for which ironically Allegri was the opposing manager), it makes me especially happy to see him having a breakout season.
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| You always remember your first. |
Saelemaekers made a nice run, weaving in and out of opposition players, only to send the ball well over the bar. In the 38th minute, Gabbia struck Pinamonti on the head pretty hard as he was coming down from being in the air. There was no foul called, which angered Idzes in particular, who was mixing it up with Tomori. Things kept being unnecessarily physical, without enough referee intervention, with Saelemaekers fouled by Candé, and then Pulisic down briefly after having clashed heads with Idzes. And in the 48th minute, Modrić's free kick was easily managed by Murić.
Bartesaghi opened up the second half by scoring his second goal, from an Nkunku assist, putting Milan ahead. 2-1 Milan. That gave Milan courage, and Nkunku had a shot saved not long after. However, things went downhill when Gabbia seemed to catch his foot in the turf and went down with what looked like a serious and painful knee injury. Surprisingly, he came back onto the pitch.
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| Would have been nice to win this for our 19 year-old hero. |
In the 57th is what everyone has talked about since the match. Pulisic scored a goal, a rebound from a shot from Pavlović. That should have put Milan ahead 3-1, but it didn't. Because immediately afterward, Crezzini called a foul on Loftus-Cheek. Because the decision to call the foul was based on subjective criteria from the head official Crezzini, VAR could not go back and correct the error.
The AIA admitted the error, Crezzini will reportedly skip this coming weekend's assignments because of his performance, but Milan only got the point. And, not surprisingly, Inter took top spot on the table, while Lautaro Martínez moved up to the league's top scorer, taking that away from Pulisic, too. Same old story.
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| Robbed. |
In the 60th minute, Allegri sent De Winter on for Gabbia. Which was a relief but also concerning... why did Gabbia play another six minutes if he was injured? And also, now we have to play in the Supercoppa on Thursday without Gabbia?
Meanwhile, Maignan had a great instinct save on Thorsvedt, then easily managed a chance from Idzes. Matić fouled Pulisic, but obviously, Crezzini was not going to make the call (for whatever reason.) And in the 67th minute, Loftus-Cheek also scored a goal from a Rabiot cross, but it was rightfully called back for offside.
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| Losing Gabbia even for just one match is a huge loss. |
After bringing Ricci on for Pulisic in the 73rd, Laurienté equalized for Sassuolo in the 77th minute. 2-2 all. Rabiot sent the ball to Loftus-Cheek, who nearly scored, but Murić stepped in and saved the day for Sassuolo. Laurienté was fouled by Tomori in the box, which Sassuolo wanted a penalty for, but replays show it was not a penalty. Then Laurienté forced Maignan into a big save in the 88th minute.
Athekame replaced Saelemaekers and Estupiñan replaced the goalscoring Bartesaghi in the 91st minute. Pavlović fouled Cheddira in the box, which looked like a penalty to me, but AIA officials said this week it was not. Milan tested Murić a number of times in stoppage time, but could not find a winner (at least not one that the referee would not wrongfully call off.) The point was harsh, but also almost predictable.
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| Sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe... |
Oddly enough, Allegri was presented with his Serie A Coach of the Month award for November ahead of the match. What a bizarre juxtaposition to drop points again to another newly promoted team, who, while in ninth place coming into this match, Milan still should have easily defeated. Sure, there was a wrongfully disallowed goal in this one, but still... it's not the first time this season.
Milan gave up top spot to Marotta's team, which is twice as bad as letting any other team go top. And we lost Gabbia to injury, too. It's almost as if Allegri is too good to be true. Like maybe losing his first match to Cremonese was actually a red flag, not just a one off. Because with so many points dropped to these newly promoted sides this season, we have an Allegri problem.
Milan Futuro Win 3-1 vs. Castellanzese
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| Primavera's Ossola celebrates putting Milan Futuro ahead. |
After going down to an early goal, Milan Futuro came back like a lion, scoring three goals to secure all three points in this one with a 3-1 win over Castellanzese at home. Even more exciting, two of the goals were from Primavera players who were called up and subbed on. As has happened too frequently, Futuro conceded an early goal from Castellanzese in just the sixth minute. Which was brutal, as this match was being played immediately after the Sassuolo match, and Castellanzese weare black and green striped kit. However, it only took five minutes for Branca to equalize. So it was 1-1 all at the half.
After subbing on Perera, Ossola, Hodzić, and Borsani, Ossola found the back of the net in the 75th minute to put Milan Futuro ahead 2-1. Magrassi subbed on in the 78th minute, and finally, in the 94th minute, Primavera's Borsani scored a fantastic goal to make it 3-1 for Milan Futuro. A great win for Oddo's guys, and they solidified their fifth place spot in Group B. Brief highlights are available. On Sunday, they will be away to 16th place Vogherese.
Milan Primavera Victorious at Home vs. Parma
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| A home win worth celebrating. |
Tuesday, Renna's Primavera pulled off a rare home win, a 2-0 victory over Parma. They scored first, with Zukić headin one home from a great Pandolfi cross in just the 24th minute. They continued to attack throughout the first chance, with Zukić even attempting a great bicycle kick that forced a big save from Parma's keeper, but it was still 1-0 at the half. In the second half, it was captain Pippo Scotti who scored his fifth goal of the season in the 51st minute to put Milan up 2-0. Parma fought back, putting Longoni to work, but Milan Primavera held out for the three points and the clean sheet. Brief highlights are available. Next up, they are away to Napoli Primavera on Sunday.