The first round of the Europa League quarter-final tie went to Roma as they claimed a 1-0 victory at San Siro against AC Milan last night.
As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, a different Milan will be needed at the Stadio Olimpico next Thursday night if they are to secure passage to the Europa League semi-finals.
The Rossoneri did not play the match that the sell-out crowd expected. Apart from a few odd exceptions such as Tijjani Reijnders and Samuel Chukwueze, who came on and did well at end of the match, all the players disappointed, especially the leaders like Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud.
Unrecognisable Milan
Stefano Pioli did not find a way to free himself from the web that Daniele De Rossi built, but the main culprits are the players, who were truly way off the pace last night compared to recent weeks.
Luckily for Milan, the tie remains open because it is still only a one-goal game, but a different Diavolo entirely will be needed to overcome the Giallorossi in what will be a very hostile Olimpico.
In particular, there will be a need for an inspired Leao as in recent weeks and not the soft and transparent one of yesterday, who among other things went off amid jeers.
However, it remains to be understood whether they were for his performance or for the fact that Pioli brought him off when his team needed a goal, which speaks volumes in itself.
Big chance goes begging.
The first leg was decided by a goal by Gianluca Mancini from a corner in the 17th minute of the first half, with Roma’s threat from set pieces having been highlighted pre-game.
From that moment, the away side’s performance was on the right track: De Rossi’s team in fact closed up entirely in defence and tried to make themselves dangerous on the counter-attack.
Milan found very little space, but still created some chances, especially with Reijnders’ shots from outside the area. However, the big chance came at the end for Giroud.
He was a few yards out and he somehow hit the crossbar after a splendid run from Chukwueze. The return match at the Olimpico is scheduled in a week and Milan will have it all to do.
