A changed line up featured Kjaer, Pobega and Saelemaekers others as starters. The first chance fell to Leao’s leg after a counter but the Portuguese shot wide and high. He would miss again soon after.
Possession was all Milan in first 15 but Sassuolo got their first chance in the 20th minute. Giorgos Kyriakopoulos was brought down in the box sandwiched between Florenzi and Saelemaekers. It looked like a good penalty and VAR confirmed the same. Berardi’s penalty was saved well by Maignan. The keeper guessed right and stopped the ball.
The hosts grew in the game slightly but it was just as Milan were missing shots or not creating at all. The right side remained an obvious weakness. The decision making and execution were certainly missing as the half finished 0-0.
A well worked counter in early second showed promise but Diaz’s final ball/cross was too strong.
In the 57th minutes De Ketelaere came on for Diaz, Tonali for Pobega and Messias for Saelemaekers as the game was still a stalemate. Maignan almost hurt himself while jumping to catch a ball but was able to remain in the game.
With chances few and no end product and after Adli replaced Giroud and then Kalulu replaced Kjaer the game slowly moved to its end but a final drama awaited as Florenzi fell to the ground clutching his left hamstring. In the seven added minutes he was unable to continue and therefore Milan were playing with 10 men. It didn’t make a difference as an ineffective game ended 0-0.
