AC Milan are struggling in multiple facets at the moment, one of which is their inability to get contributions from substitutes.
La Gazzetta dello Sport write how in 2023 Milan have only had one goal from a substitute that directly led to obtaining points, which was Tommaso Pobega’s goal against Roma on January 8. Divock Origi’s goal against Sassuolo was off the bench but that was to make it 5-2.
Pioli needs goals from the bench, but it is something that has not been forthcoming this season so far. Ante Rebic got one against Empoli, Olivier Giroud at home against Spezia and Rafael Leao versus Monza.
How many of them were decisive? Giroud’s was, in Milan’s 2-1 win against the Ligurians, as was Pobega’s in the draw with Roma even if the away side did come back and get a point. Rebic’s made it 1-0 in Empoli, while when Leao scored it was 3-1 at the time.
Excluding Juventus, all the teams fighting for a place in the Champions League have done better than Milan in terms of getting goals off the bench. Napoli leads the standings with 12 goals from the bench, followed by Fiorentina (11) and Udinese (8).
Inter are doing better (7) along with Cremonese (7). Atalanta, Sassuolo, Rome and Lazio are at 6. Salernitana, Empoli and Milan are on 5. Behind them are Juve and Monza with 4. Then Bologna and Lecce with 3, Sampdoria and Torino with 2 and finally Spezia and Verona with just one goal.
