Salernitana 2-2 AC Milan: Lacklustre Rossoneri drop two valuable points

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan dropped two valuable points in the title race as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Serie A’s bottom-placed side Salernitana on Saturday night.

Milan got the early lead inside the opening 10 minutes through a Junior Messias goal, but the home side were resolute and they got themselves level when Bonazzoli scored his sixth goal of the season by seizing on a Mike Maignan error of judgement.

Salernitana then went 2-1 up in the second half as Milan Djuric netted his third of the campaign via an excellent header, and though Ante Rebic’s shot from distance levelled it at 2-2 that’s how the game would finish.

It is yet another big missed opportunity for the Rossoneri, as they missed the chance to pile pressure upon Napoli and Inter in the title race.

Head coach Stefano Pioli made only one change from the starting line-up that beat Sampdoria 1-0 at the weekend as Theo Hernandez returned from suspension to take the place of Alessandro Florenzi at left-back.

The only word to describe the atmosphere that the home fans generated at the Arechi Stadium would be electric, as they got behind their team in what was a very encouraging start, culminating when Ranieri hit one from his left-back position and Mike Maignan made his first save.

Despite the bright opening stages from Salernitana, it was Milan who took the lead with their first real attack inside the sixth minute. It came via a familiar route as a marauding run through the middle from Theo Hernandez found the inside movement of Junior Messias, who made Sepe commit by dropping his shoulder and finished smartly.

From that point onwards Milan began to find a lot of space in behind, as Brahim Diaz first got crowded out after getting one-on-one with his marker and then Rafael Leao was fouled on the break, with Sepe then being forced into a fantastic save from the resulting Ismael Bennacer free-kick around 20 yards from goal.

Some lovely link-up play between Leao and Diaz saw the latter return a ball to the former on the edge of the box in the 23rd minute, which was blocked away for a corner in the end as the Rossoneri continued to pile on the pressure.

There was a moment of worry for Milan when Sandro Tonali overstretched his groin, going down looking in some discomfort but then getting up and deciding to continue despite the fact Franck Kessie was stripped and ready to come on.

Despite things seeming to be under control for Milan, the home side drew level on the half-hour mark. A half-shout for a penalty at one end was denied and Salernitana countered down their right flank, crossing into a central area where Djuric and Maignan contested the same ball and it fell to Bonazzoli, who finished acrobatically in spite of Theo’s efforts to clear on the line.

There was a moment of panic inside the Salernitana box just less than five minutes before the break as a ball clipped over the top found Leao near the byline and his cut-back was close to finding the run of Messias, who was unable to bundle his effort home.

A change came at the interval as Franck Kessie did take his bib off and come on but not in place of Tonali, instead coming on in place of Bennacer who had of course been booked in the first half.

Milan were inches away from regaining the lead in controversial circumstances as Sepe was showing signs of an ankle injury when a cross from the right side was met by a Leao bicycle kick that just evaded the post.

Giroud could have had his first goal in Italy away from San Siro when a free-kick was recycled for a second delivery that Alessio Romagnoli headed back across goal to the Frenchman, who tried to nestle his effort inside the far post but drifted it wide.

The former Arsenal and Chelsea man had a golden chance to break his duck outside the Meazza when he was slid through on goal just before the hour mark yet Sepe stood up well and parried his effort. Moments later, Ante Rebic came on and Brahim Diaz made way.

Maignan caused further anxiety when he decided to try and hold on to the ball too long when Bonazzoli was pressing, and he gave the ball away before Romagnoli’s leaping header prevented a curling finish into an empty net.

Sepe nearly responded with his own howler when Leao let fly from 25 yards on the half volley, though the Italian did just about enough to get behind the ball and squirm it behind for a corner.

Just inside the final 20 minutes, the hosts took the lead and it was the aptly named Milan Djuric who got it. A cross from Mazzocchi on the right side drifted all the way into the centre of the area where Djuric then beat Kessie to the header and powered it past a diving Maignan.

A double change came immediately after as Alexis Saelemaekers and Alessandro Florenzi came on in place of Messias and Calabria.

In the 78th minute, the score became 2-2 and it came through a stroke of fortune for Milan in truth. A long ball was knocked down by Giroud into the path of Rebic, and the Croatian let fly from 25 yards with his shot taking a deflection that crept inside the near post past a rooted Sepe.

Giroud was on the receiving end of another ball, this time from Theo on the left wing as he couldn’t quite get over the ball to head under the crossbar having beaten Fazio to the ball.

Tags AC Milan Salernitana Milan

22 Comments

    1. Yeah Pioli managed this match terribly. I think Tomori is not ready yet to start a match. Also I don’t know why Milan bought Lazetic if he is not going to play. At least they should try those players against these opponents. Is Lazetic injured or what?

        1. That’s why I was asking because I have noticed that he wasn’t even on the bench during the last two matches. Well, Inter doesn’t have an easy match tomorrow and they might be tired too Fer very exhausting matches. It wouldn’t surprise me if Sassuolo wins

        2. Giroud scored two goals against Inter and two goals against Lazio that gave us the win and you mocked him as a 60 year old man? 🤦‍♂️

  1. If we win the league it wouldn’t be good for Serie A, not if we come up with performances like these. Where was the fighting spirit tonight. Absolutely useless

  2. We need a new coach in 5he simmer to go to the next level.
    Pioli has won NOTHING in his career and you can see that.The losses at home to Spezia and Sassuolo.
    Now this against a bottom league side.Tomoti is not yet fully fit.Benmacer should be playing as well.
    I’ve seen the team.
    I can’t sit around and watch Inter rack up titles while we stick with an average manager that has no idea how to win trophies. Bring in Conte of you have to.
    I am sick of Pioli. Sick.

  3. Really weurd to see Mike made two-three bad mistakes.

    But everyone are off after Messias goal like what the heck happened???

    Also. This clearly isn’t Pioli mistake. Milan dominates the whole game with tons of chances.

  4. Tomori was not ready to play yet. He played too slow. Milan need to play not only from the plank, so a playmaker is needed. Rebic was terrible because cannot pass the ball accuratelly manytime to Giroud.

  5. yes you right. something bad at the mentality and the coach responsible for it. Almost Always when they obviously favorites they messed up. you cannot lead 2-0 on bologna that with one less player and conceded 2 goals (just to remind that bologna finished with 9 players and milan barely arrived to attempts)

  6. I am going to blame pioli, it’s harsh to blame him but I have to because it was obvious today that these players came, thinking they already won, at this times, I miss Ibrahimovic.

    Theo will always run with the ball to the opponent but will not pass or do a better ting with it, what’s the need of running to the opponent post just to look for fouls instead of finding a mate, He lacks concentration at the important time. He deserves rating 3.

    Leao have been electric but lets be sincere, leao is useless without the ball, his lack of tracking back and pressing do expose Theo far alot than when rebic plays LW. Leao attitude is his only flaw, he gets disinterested most of the time in the latch especially when he doesn’t have the ball. His rating is 4.5

    DiaZ is simply the reason we were toothless for most of the match, buying this guy for 22m is an error that if Milan makes then we will regret wasting that money for a decade. His rating is 2.5

    Mike actually had a bad day but he was not the reason why we drew the match.

    I knew from the get-go that we will either lose or draw, the players were playing like they were sleep walking, no confidence, no aggression, wierd pressing, selfish plays and nobody taking responsibility.

    I hate this match

    1. The management are willing to sign Diaz for € 22 M rather than € 15 M for Romain Faivre who moved to Lyon this season ,Good bussiness. Keep it that way…

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