AC Milan managed to return to winning ways in Serie A by beating Frosinone 3-2 on Saturday night, but it required a second half comeback.
Milan were made to work very hard to get all three points away at the Stadio Benito Stirpe on, needing a late winner from Luka Jovic to make it 3-2 having already surrendered a lead.
Olivier Giroud’s header had given the Rossoneri the lead early on, but then the home side hit back through a Soule penalty and then took the lead through Mazzitelli in the second half.
Matteo Gabbia levelled things up not long after that, and then Jovic was the super sub once again as he popped up in the right place at the right time to win it inside the final ten minutes.
Below are some stats from the win…
Just about edging it
Milan had the edge in the game when it comes to Expected Goals, possession, total shots, shots on target, big chances and corners.
This certainly suggests that they were the more dominant team in the game, even if it did take some late heroics to bail out another questionable defensive effort.
📊 The stats from the win against Frosinone pic.twitter.com/0AqIePhupr
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) February 3, 2024
Trump cards
Milan once again continued their theme of getting contributions from substitutes, as Luka Jovic netted inside the final 10 minutes having only been on the pitch for around 60 seconds.
It means that the Serbian has four goals off the bench in the league now, while Noah Okafor has three, meaning that Pioli has had some depth to rely on.
Luka Jovic has the most goals off the bench of any player in Serie A (4), while Noah Okafor (3) is in joint-second.
[via @Gazzetta_it] pic.twitter.com/AlAr74leyL
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) February 5, 2024
Not only that, but Jovic’s record of seven goals and one assist in 19 appearances for the Rossoneri is very impressive, especially considering that it works out as a goal every 103 minutes because most of his games have been sub appearances.
Luka Jovic for #ACMilan this season…
✅ 19 appearances
⚽ 7 goals
🎯 1 assist
⏱ A goal every 103 minutes pic.twitter.com/bQQAgs3LyU— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) February 3, 2024
Fine wine
Olivier Giroud was at his best on Saturday night, scoring a goal from 0.31 xG and getting an assist for Matteo Gabbia to make it 2-2.
Not only that, but he had 36 touches – a nice upturn compared to recent games – as well as three key passes and he won all but two aerial duels.
.@_OlivierGiroud_ vs. Frosinone:
➤ 86 minutes
➤ 1 goal (from 0.31 xG)
➤ 1 assist (from 0.50 xA)
➤ 1 shot on target
➤ 36 Touches
➤ 17/24 passes completed
➤ 3 key passes
➤ 3/4 long balls completed
➤ 5/7 aerial duels won pic.twitter.com/r7669Z9phI— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) February 5, 2024
The Frenchman is in elite company as one of four players in the top five leagues with 8+ goals scored (11 for him) and 8+ assists delivered this season.
#Giroud is one of four players in the top five leagues with 8+ goals scored (11 for him) and 8+ assists delivered this season, alongside Salah, Watkins and Sanè.
[via @OptaPaolo] pic.twitter.com/foGWXSiVoh
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) February 3, 2024
Sign him up! Jovic as well.