AC Milan claimed three crucial points in their pursuit of a top-four finish, beating Sampdoria 5-1 as the attackers finally found the back of the net. Down below are the player ratings for the Rossoneri.
Starting XI
Maignan (6): Decent display from him and apart from the goal, which he couldn’t do much about, he didn’t have to do a lot this evening.
Calabria (6.5): After some tough games for him, this was clearly a step in the right direction as he did better at the back but above all also added quality in attack. He had a couple of nice crosses, especially one that Giroud should have converted.
Thiaw (6): He did almost everything right this evening but it must be said that he could have done better on the goal. He was in no-mans land and should have picked up Quagliarella.
Tomori (6.5): A bit rough around the edges, but overall a step forward and he won many duels out there tonight. Then again, not the toughest opponents.
Hernandez (6): He clearly made a huge mistake on Sampdoria’s goal with reckless defending. Nevertheless, he did do well moving forward and helped put constant pressure on the Samp defence. It was almost a 5.5, though.
Tonali (7): A true box-to-box display from him with many good sequences in both phases of the game from him. He was also involved in the lovely fourth goal, getting the assist.
Krunic (6): Nothing spectacular from the Bosnian this evening. A couple of good passes and generally good on the ball, but quite average.
Messias (5): Without a doubt the worst Milan player out there tonight. He shouldn’t be blamed for the goal, because it shouldn’t be his job to mark a player in that position, but he still didn’t do enough in attack to prove himself.
Diaz (8 – MOTM): He’s been inconsistent this season with ups and downs, and this was certainly one of the former. Two assists and then one goal as the icing on the cake. He was behind almost every move tonight.
Leao (8): Milan need him to step up and he did, bagging one goal and two assists (if you count the penalty won). He looked in a much better mood out there tonight and hopefully, he can keep it up.
Giroud (8): Could perhaps argue that he could have been MOTM, bagging a hat-trick and breaking his goal drought in style. One header, one penalty and one ‘tap-in’. Milan need him like this, also because he did well in the hold-up play.
Substitutes
Saelemaekers (6.5): He needed just three minutes to do more than Messias did in 60, helping set up the lovely fourth goal. Bright on the ball as well.
De Ketelaere (5.5): Not great but also not terrible, a couple of good passes here and there but not enough impact in the end.
Pobega (N/A): He didn’t play enough to get a rating.
Kjaer (N/A): He didn’t play enough to get a rating.
Ballo-Toure (N/A): He didn’t play enough to get a rating.
