Today’s Papers – Milan break, Napoli run away
Category: Sassuolo
Tonali analyses Milan defeat against Sassuolo
Sandro Tonali concedes Milan ‘had a bad day’ and urges the Rossoneri to react in their next game against Andriy Shevchenko’s Genoa.
Milan lost their second Serie A game in a row collecting a 3-1 loss against Sassuolo at San Siro.
“We didn’t play as we now. We created a lot in the first half, but we were not able to finish from inside the box,” Tonali told DAZN.
“We didn’t lack energy. We faced a team that kept the ball possession and we had a bad day. We have to keep our heads held high. Luckily we return to the pitch in three days.”
The Rossoneri return to the pitch on Wednesday night, visiting Shevchenko’s Genoa.
Tonali has been playing in a two-man midfielder at Milan, but which system does he prefer? Two or three-man midfield?
“I’d say three-man midfield a year ago, but now we play with two and I like it this way,” he said.
“I’ve been playing with this system for the last two seasons and I feel at ease regardless of who I play close to.”
Serie A Highlights: Milan 1-3 Sassuolo
Watch as Alessio Romagnoli goes from hero to villain for Milan, Gianluca Scamacca scores a stunner and Domenico Berardi ruins Mike Maignan’s comeback.
The Rossoneri had taken the lead at San Siro with a Romagnoli header, but Scamacca unleashed a rocket into the far top corner just three minutes later.
Scamacca forced a save from Maignan, the ricochet off Simon Kjaer turning the game around completely.
It was the goalkeeper’s first game back since wrist surgery in October and Berardi shook off Romagnoli before nutmegging the Frenchman.
Romagnoli was then sent off for a last man foul on Gregoire Defrel.
Berardi scores Messi-style goal and continues to torment Milan
Domenico Berardi scored his tenth goal in 16 appearances against Milan with an effort that reminisced of Leo Messi’s goal against Bayern Munich in 2015.
Sassuolo claimed a historic 3-1 win over Milan at San Siro today with goals from Gianluca Scamacca, Berardi and a Simon Kjaer own goal.
The Italian winger scored his tenth goal in 16 appearances against the Rossoneri, the club against whom the 27-year-old has scored the most goals in his career.
Berardi netted four goals in his first-ever game against the Rossoneri in the 2013-14 campaign and three more in the return leg at the Mapei Stadium in 2014-15.
“I think Milan brings me good luck,” Berardi told DAZN after the game.
“I’ve always scored against them and I hope to continue.”
Domenico Berardi through the legs of Maignan 🥜
Sassuolo lead Milan 3-1 😳 pic.twitter.com/ZvFwcK4rzg
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 28, 2021
Berardi has won six games against Milan, drawing two and losing eight.
His last goal against the Rossoneri was similar to the one Leo Messi netted in 2015 in a Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
Both Berardi and Messi left their direct opponent floored, managing to put the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Sassuolo have 18 points in 14 games and have beaten Milan and Juventus away this season.
Berardi v Romagnoli pic.twitter.com/EZty6ZfGCh
— James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) November 28, 2021
Pioli: ‘Milan lacked sharpness and made mistakes’
Stefano Pioli admits Milan ‘lacked sharpness and made too many mistakes’ in their 3-1 defeat to Sassuolo.
The Rossoneri suffered their second consecutive Serie A loss after a 4-3 away to Fiorentina, the first at San Siro in the league this term.
Alessio Romagnoli’s glancing header on a short corner had put them in front, but it was turned around by a Gianluca Scamacca screamer from distance, another Scamacca effort that deflected in off Simon Kjaer and Domenico Berardi’s angled drive.
“We lacked sharpness, because we made too many mistakes. We had so many half-chances that we didn’t take because of the wrong choices.
“When we did take the lead, we didn’t hold on longer than three minutes, and those are the crucial moments of the match. Clearly, something didn’t work.”
Pioli made some rare squad rotation choices in midfield and they did not pay off, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Ismael Bennacer providing no protection in the first half.
Milan have now conceded seven goals in two Serie A games, losing 4-3 to Fiorentina last week.
“I didn’t see a lack of concentration or determination. I think mentally we just weren’t sharp and made the wrong choices.
“Our approach to defending does require one-on-one situations, it’s just that we lost several of them today against quality players like Scamacca and Berardi.
“It’s never just about the defence, we gave the ball away too cheaply and certainly shouldn’t have conceded the third goal.
“I don’t believe it was the wrong approach, we just made bad choices. We are aware of our strengths and our weaknesses, so we need to keep working. We had a very strong start to the season, then in recent games have fallen away a little due to various situations, but we can get back on track.
“This squad was built for two tournaments and we hope to remain in the Champions League for as long as possible. I used five players who weren’t starting in Madrid precisely so we’d have fresh legs and minds, but Sassuolo are a technically-gifted and quick side who created real problems.”
Pioli had a final tribute to pay for the ultras at San Siro, especially after so many of them travelled to Madrid for the midweek Champions League win over Atletico.
“I want to send a message to our Milan fans, who really were pushing behind us from start to finish. They never let us down and with them we will go far.”
Dionisi saw right Sassuolo attitude with Milan
Sassuolo coach Alessio Dionisi saw the right ‘attitude’ to beat Milan at San Siro and wants them to use it more consistently in future.
Alessio Romagnoli’s glancing header on a short corner had put the Rossoneri in front, but it was turned around by a Gianluca Scamacca scorcher, another of his efforts parried onto Simon Kjaer and Domenico Berardi’s angled drive.
“We felt joy and also celebrating after the bitterness of previous results, as there are so many people who work really hard at this club and deserve this gratification,” Dionisi told DAZN.
“Despite going behind, we had done well in the first half and gained confidence as the game wore on. More difficult moments will come, we must be more balanced when dealing with positive and negative situations. Let’s not forget, we dropped leads so many times this season, this time we turned it around.
“We are the same team and must remember the approach we took today that made it different.”
Sassuolo have become real giant-killers, picking up wins away to Juventus and now Milan.
“As I said last week, this is a great club for football, but our fanbase isn’t that big, so we don’t have the push on home turf that some other teams might do.
“We are inconsistent, but perhaps we put more focus in for these big games when we are the underdogs. We must learn to have the same attitude in the less high-profile fixtures.”
Why Romagnoli and not Raspadori saw red in Milan vs. Sassuolo
Alessio Romagnoli saw red in Milan-Sassuolo, contrary to Giacomo Raspadori who could have been sent off for a foul on Ismael Bennacer.
The Rossoneri collected their second defeat in a row by losing 3-1 against Sassuolo at San Siro.
Alessio Romagnoli gave his side the lead in the first half, but Gianluca Scamacca levelled the score after a few minutes and caused Simon Kjaer’s own goal before the break.
Domenico Berardi made it three for Sassuolo in the second half before Romagnoli was given his marching order for a foul on Gregoire Defrel on the edge of the Rossoneri’s box.
#MilanSassuolo, brutto fallo di #Raspadori su #Bennacer al 38 (📸 DAZN): la gamba è sicuramente tesa, non c’è stata OFR probabilmente perché appena dopo essersi accorto del contatto l’attaccante neroverde raccoglie subito la gambe senza affondare il colpo. Imprudenza 🟨#SerieA pic.twitter.com/W6BTqNZA2j
— Errori Arbitrali (@erroriarbitrali) November 28, 2021
The Italian defender denied Sassuolo an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and his last-man foul outside the box could only be punished with a straight red card.
Raspadori could have seen red too in the first half for a foul on Bennacer, but referee Gianluca Manganiello only showed a yellow card and VAR didn’t intervene.
Raspadori’s tackle could have been considered a ‘serious foul play’ but when the match official showed him a yellow card, VAR didn’t intervene, not considering the referee’s decision a clear and obvious mistake.
Raspadori, in fact, tried to pull out, meaning the foul was not intentional and didn’t want to harm his opponent.
Serie A | Milan 1-3 Sassuolo: Scamacca stuns Rossoneri
Milan fell to their second consecutive Serie A defeat, as Alessio Romagnoli scored and was sent off, as Gianluca Scamacca gave Sassuolo a shock victory at San Siro.
The Rossoneri had a mixed week, suffering their first Serie A defeat of the season, yet winning away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Olivier Giroud joined Fikayo Tomori, Davide Calabria, Samu Castillejo and Ante Rebic on the treatment table, but Mike Maignan made his comeback in goal way ahead of schedule, having originally been ruled out for three months after wrist surgery on October 12.
Sassuolo had Davide Frattesi available after winning an appeal against his ban, though Jeremie Boga and Filip Djuricic were injured.
Milan took the lead when a short corner was taken for Theo Hernandez, finding the smart Alessio Romagnoli header at the near post to surprise Andrea Consigli.
It lasted just three minutes before Gianluca Scamacca surged forward and unleashed a screamer from distance that flew into the far top corner, giving the returning Maignan no chance.
Sassuolo penalty appeals were rejected for Brahim Diaz handball, as his arm was flush to the torso.
The visitors turned the game around completely from another corner, as it was only cleared as far as Scamacca, whose shot was parried by Maignan’s leg, but only to ricochet off Simon Kjaer and back into the net from a couple of yards.
They almost capitulated completely, Maignan getting to a Giacomo Raspadori angled drive and Scamacca nodding wide.
Milan’s midfield was providing no protection, so Franck Kessie and Junior Messias were introduced at half-time.
Rafael Leao, Alexis Saelemaekers and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had hopeful efforts off target, but they were rarely threatening.
Instead, Sassuolo extended their lead when Kessie and Sandro Tonali failed to clear, Berardi sent Romagnoli to ground with a dummy and nutmegged Maignan from a tight angle.
Kjaer’s header skimmed the far post and Theo Hernandez was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card for a row with Frattesi.
Junior Messias saw his angled drive beaten away at the near post for a corner, but it went from bad to worse with Romagnoli shown a straight red card for his rugby tackle on Gregoire Defrel on the edge of the box, after being skinned for pace.
Maignan parried a Berardi free kick to keep the scoreline down.
Milan 1-3 Sassuolo
Romagnoli 21 (M), Scamacca 24 (S), Kjaer og 33 (S), Berardi 66 (S)
Sent off: Romagnoli 76 (M)
Video: Scamacca scores screamer against Milan
Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca scored a brilliant goal against Milan, levelling the score in the first half at San Siro.
The 22-year-old scored his fourth Serie A goal this term unleashing a rocket from long-range that flew into the top corner.
There is no stopping that! 😳
An immaculate hit from Gianluca Scamacca as Sassuolo draw level just three minutes after Milan’s opener 💥 pic.twitter.com/GFlrXhldVk
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 28, 2021
Mike Maignan could only stare at Scamacca’s shot which helped Sassuolo level the score just a few minutes after Alessio Romagnoli’s opener.
Shortly after, Scamacca also caused Simon Kjaer’s own goal, so Sassuolo went into the break 2-1 up.
You can follow Milan-Sassuolo live on the Football Italia Liveblog.
Pioli explains Bakayoko pick for Milan
Stefano Pioli explains why Tiemoue Bakayoko gets the nod in midfield for Milan against Sassuolo today and how to neutralise the Neroverdi’s possession football.
It kicks off at San Siro at 14.00 GMT.
This is the first start of the season in Serie A for Tiemoue Bakayoko, who returned to the club after a different loan spell from Chelsea to Napoli.
“He is starting because I really liked the way he played as a substitute against Atletico Madrid,” Pioli told DAZN.
“Bakayoko has found fitness now and is in good shape. He needed a little time to understand some situations he wasn’t quite accustomed to.
“He’s a good player, I am sure he’ll be ready.”
Sassuolo are one of the only two teams in Serie A, along with fellow leaders Napoli, with a larger average share of possession this season.
“When we have the ball, we will try to be attacking and positive. Sassuolo are very good at possession football, so we must try to cause them problems and make it tricky for them to pass it cleanly.”
