AC Milan left it late to beat struggling Hellas Verona but Sandro Tonali came up with the good at the Stadio Bentegodi again in a 2-1 win.
The first 45 minutes were characterised by two errors at the back as Miguel Veloso put a Rafael Leao cross into his own-goal to give Milan the lead, but then Matteo Gabbia diverted a Koray Gunter shot past Ciprian Tatarusanu 10 minutes later to level it.
The winner came late in the game and in all honesty might have been quite harsh on Verona, but Tonali was again the decisive man just as he was in the same game last season as he kept his composure to score a late winner.
It is a win that moves Milan third in the table as their Scudetto defence continues, with Monza the next game on Saturday evening.
Stefano Pioli decided to make some changes from the team that lost to Chelsea in midweek as Ismael Bennacer dropped to the bench with Rade Krunic dropping into the double pivot, and then Yacine Adli got his first start of the season as the playmaker.
The first half-chance of the game fell to Milan as Verona protested for a foul after a timely intervention from Fikayo Tomori, with the ball then finding its way to Olivier Giroud who chose to shot from around 25 yards out with a dinked effort that sailed over the bar.
The home side responded with an attempt of their own in the seventh minute as a dangerous ball into the box ended up rolling perfectly into the path of Faraoni on the edge of the box, though his effort was weak and easily saved by Ciprian Tatarusanu.
In the ninth minute, Milan took the lead and just like last season’s game it came via a run from Rafael Leao. The winger burst down the left flank and beat his man into the box, attempting to find a man with a cut-back that ended up deflecting in off Miguel Veloso for an own-goal.
It really should have been 2-0 not long after as Milan again won the ball back high up the field and led a counter-attack with Giroud, who got the ball back from Brahim Diaz yet somehow lifted his effort wide of the post.
The Rossoneri would be made to pay for wasting that chance as again a player turned the ball into his own net to level it. This time it was Matteo Gabbia who diverted the ball past Tatarusanu after Gunter let fly from the left corner of the box when the keeper appeared to have it covered, though the shot was on target so would not go down as an own-goal.
The equaliser seemed to galvanise the home crowd who got right behind their team and they began to have the lion’s share of possession, with Milan’s attempts being limited to long range efforts from Leao and Theo Hernandez.
There was a huge let-off for Milan as the clock ticked past the 45 minute mark as a cross from Verona’s right side travelled all the way to the far post where the run of Gunter had not been spotted and he somehow headed the ball back across goal rather than in.
Pioli’s response to a sub-par first half was to make two changes as Divock Origi and Ante Rebic came on for Brahim Diaz and Giroud.
The hosts were the side who threatened first in the second half as a Milan attack broke down and Verona countered in a four-on-four situation, with the ball worked out to the right side where Krustic bent an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
The next chance fell to the Diavolo as a ball through to Rebic found the substitute in space down the left side of the box but the Croatian should have done better than firing straight at Montipo.
Verona were inches away from taking the lead for the first time when a cross by Veloso on the left flank found Piccoli unmarked but his header rattled the crossbar and bounced back out, with Gunter firing onto the roof of the net on the rebound.
Again Pioli responded to the abject nature of the performance with changes as Tommaso Pobega and Ismael Bennacer came on for Krunic and Adli.
Milan had two chances in quick succession as the game entered the final 15 minutes, with the first being a howitzer from Theo Hernandez that was heading into the top corner but parried away by Montipo, and then he saved again to deny a Rebic header from deep inside the box.
With just less than 10 minutes left on the clock, Milan got their second goal and it was Tonali who was the hero just like in the same fixture last season. A ball from Leao out to the right found Rebic and he put an inch-perfect ball into the middle for Tonali, who sidefooted through Montipo’s legs first time.
The home side went back on the attack in search of an equaliser so Pioli brought Malick Thiaw on for his debut, and his first intervention was a crucial one as he blocked a shot at the far post that seemed destined to make it 2-2. A couple of half appeals for handball were waved away after the ball struck Pobega not long after.
A late chance to seal the win on the counter was squandered when Tonali shot from distance despite options around him, however the remainder of the five added minutes were navigated to seal a big win.
So, all you Tonali-haters…. Be honest. Who was better today, Tonali or last year’s MVP? 🙂
How did they score the first goal and who started build up for 2nd goal ?
Tonali started the build up and finished the whole play on the 2nd goal. He ran from his own penalty box to Veronas and his finish was something Leao, Giroud should study and learn from
I didn’t ask for statistics. I asked about the performance. How did they play in overall (ie. both in defending and attacking). Tonali was everywhere the whole 90 minutes. Leao was missing for 88 minutes but managed to beat his man twice (yet failed to pass the ball to team mates on both occasions).
*should’ve typed “was missing for 99% of the match” as he was subbed off and wasn’t on the pitch for the whole 90mins.
I love Tonali; my Milan jersey is #8. But Rafa had a very good game too.
I don’t understand why most fans here like to bash our own players. There is Tonali hatred, Leão hatred… they are both very good players and liking one shouldn’t prevent a fan from liking the other too.
None of our players had a good game.
NONE
Rebic was pretty decent. That’s about it though. Adli showed glimpses of good vision and creativity too.
You’re truly right about Adil. He has vision he just needs to work on is pace and balancing. He’ll definitely come up big. He just need time
Glad we bagged all 3 points. However, the whole team was below par, must have been playing with 10 men against Chelsea last week.
Tough game, without a shadow of a doubt. We had a bad performance, especially in the midfield, which left a lot of spaces and played in a very messy way. Anyway, I’m happy for the three points, this kind of victory is very important in the end . And to highlight a positive aspect, I was impressed with the great performance of Thiaw in the few minutes he was on the field: very aware and efficient, with two providential interventions.
Trust me I thought it was going to be a goal, then Thiaw blocked the shot, which again I wasn’t sure if the ball made contact with his hand. The midfield Krunic,Tonali with Adli left gaps in midfield, would have been better if the was Bennacer, Tonali with Adli.
Thiaw blocked two certain goals, the boy had an amazing display today.
Glad we bagged all 3 points. However, the whole team was below par, must have been because we played with 10 men against Chelsea last week for over 70 minutes
The boys were clearly tired, you have to take that into account too.
Yes, and having Tatarusanu increases the pressure on the defense given his poor positioning, never comes out to claim a cross or corner kick, distributes poorly the ball, unlike Maignan.
Our defenders had to repeatedly rescue Tatarusanu today (except of Gabbia’s mistake).
Hopefully with Maignan back next game things will improve.
Good point, Luigi. Tatarusanu has some qualities, but he’s no Maignan, of course.
I can’t wait for Magic Mike to be back too, I also nervously watch when Tata is between the posts.
You are wrong: Thiaw played an incredible game, he was decisive two times in just a few minutes. That’s what I call a great performance.
Thiaw show promising signs today, in time he will get even better, and yes he bailed Tata out on the right post in the dying minutes.
In the 88th minute Tata should’ve come and caught the ball but he was scared and stayed on his line.
Without Thiaw that would’ve been the equaliser… Mike is needed.
Giroud should’ve really made it 2 -0 early on.
I’m satisfied with Origi’s performance, he looks like he knows he must make up some time.
Hate the performance but love the result.
I won’t say more than that.
Forza Milan