AC Milan 4-0 RB Salzburg: Giroud unplayable as Rossoneri cruise into UCL last 16

AC Milan sealed their passage into the knockout stages of the Champions League in convincing fashion with a commanding 4-0 victory against Red Bull Salzburg at San Siro.

The first 45 minutes were incredibly frantic as neither team seemed to settle for the idea of feeling each other out, but Olivier Giroud ensured Milan went in 1-0 up at the break with an excellent header from a corner.

The game was then killed off before the hour mark and Giroud’s influence could not be stopped as he set up Rade Krunic for a header to make it 2-0 and then it was three when the Frenchman buried a loose ball from close range. Junior Messias added some gloss in the closing stages with a nice curling shot.

It was known before the game that avoiding defeat against the Austrian champions would be enough to secure second in the group, and it is certainly reassuring that the team got the job done in such dominant fashion as Milan join Chelsea in the last 16.

Stefano Pioli clearly did not like what he saw during Sunday’s 2-1 league defeat against Torino as he made five changes to the starting line-up with Simon Kjaer, Ismael Bennacer, Ante Rebic, Rade Krunic and Olivier Giroud coming into the side.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side inside the first three minutes of the game and it went to Theo Hernandez. The full-back broke free on the left and shot fiercely but the ball cannoned off the post and away.

The early action was franctic as the away side provided a reminder of their danger when a ball across the Milan box found the late run of Kjaergaard but Tomori provided a crucial block, and at the other end Giroud stopped a rocket of a shot from his own team-mate Bennacer with his backside just as it was motoring towards goal.

If Giroud had blocked the previous attempt, he was the hero moments later as he headed Milan into the lead. A corner from the left side found the Frenchman unmarked and his effort was aimed downwards so it squirmed under the man on the line to give the Rossoneri a vital advantage.

The Salzburg fight back was immediate and dangerous as they looked to instantly restore parity, with Adamu having two chances. The first saw him receive a feed from the left and spin before firing straight at Tatarusanu, then he had another attempt blocked by Tomori’s body.

Midway through the first half Giroud though he had his second of the night as another surging run from Theo Hernandez ended with a shot that skidded and was parried into the striker’s path by Kohn. He took the opportunity with a calm finish from close range, but the offside flag rightly ruled it out.

VAR was called upon to check an incident just before the break where Tomori slid in to stop Okafor latching on to a ball in behind, though the review clearly showed the English defender get a touch on the ball. Shortly after, Tonali provided a nice turn and shot on the half-volley from the edge of the 18-yard box but it was straight at Koln.

There continued to be some moments of panic for Milan such as when Kjaergaard lined up a shot from 20 yards out that he thankfully curled wide of the top corner with Tatarusanu rooted to the spot.

The first half was one of frustration for Leao as Pavlović produced a sensational last ditch block to deny the winger after he looked like he had surged clean through on goal and was about to open up and score with his right foot.

Milan’s centre-back pairing continued to struggle to track the movement of the front two and the supply that went to them as Tatarusanu made a smart reaction stop to deny Adamu from close range right on the stroke of half-time after Kjaergaard’s low cross.

Milan made an absolutely perfect start to the second half as they doubled their advantage through Krunic. Rebic swung in a cross from the right flank that Giroud nodded back across goal and found the Bosnian, who in turn headed inside the far post to register his first ever goal at San Siro.

The second goal seemed to take the sting out of the game which is what Pioli’s men had been aiming to do from the start, and Kalulu forced Kohn into a save with a long range shot first time that dipped just before he caught it.

Giroud just could not be kept out of the game as he doubled his tally for the night in the 57th minute. Leao would not get the assist after what was a winding run from one side of the box to the other around the 18-yard line, but his cross bobbled around inside the area where Giroud was waiting to thump home and put the game to bed.

Milan rattled the woodwork for a second time in the game and were inches away from making it 4-0 as a delightful low cross from Bennacer was met by Leao at the far post who hit the bar with a sliding effort.

In the 69th minute the first changes were made as Tommaso Pobega came on for Bennacer while Leao made way for Junior Messias, with Rebic then shifting to the left side.

With 13 minutes left on the clock two further changes were made as Theo came off for Fode Ballo-Toure and Charles De Ketelaere replaced Krunic.

The final action of the game was the fourth goal and it came from Junior Messias. The Brazilian was put in acres of space after excellent hold up play by Giroud, who got his second assist of the night after the winger cut inside onto his left foot and curled past Kohn.

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