AC Milan continued their impressive preseason run as they overcame a terrible start against Vicenza to beat them 6-1 on Saturday night.
Milan trailed after just 20 seconds against their hosts but that seemed to really wake them up as they scored four times before the break to ensure that the result was quickly beyond doubt, with Rafael Leao, Junior Messias, Ante Rebic and an own-goal overturning the deficit.
A Fikayo Tomori header and another goal from Rebic added further gloss to the scoreline, as did the debut of Charles De Ketelaere, and now all eyes turn to the Serie A opener against Udinese one week from now.
Stefano Pioli decided to field a starting line-up that was very close to what would have been a first choice XI last season with Mike Maignan, Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Pierre Kalulu, Theo Hernandez, Ismael Bennacer, Sandro Tonali, Junior Messias and Rafael Leao all starting.
It took just 20 seconds for the home side to take the lead. A cross was clipped in from the left flank and was met by the head of Rolfini, who nestled a header inside the post having beaten Tomori to it.
Milan tried to hit back instantly and they had a couple of attempts of their own in the few minutes after the goal; the first saw Leao fire well over having taken up a good space near the edge of the box, and the second resulting in Calabria having a shot deflect into the hands of the goalkeeper Brzan.
It took only 10 minutes for Milan to draw themselves level, and it was Leao who added to his preseason tally. Brahim Diaz found Rebic who rolled the ball into the path of the Portuguese winger, and he set himself before firing in at the near post with power.
The Rossoneri continued their dominance of the early stages, with Rebic the latest to fire on goal in the 16th minute but the Croatian ended up whizzing an effort over the bar.
After scoring the equaliser, Leao was the maker of the goal to make it 2-1. Brahim Diaz fed the ball wide to the former Lille man and he whipped in a perfect cross for Messias to head home and add to his preseason tally.
Milan continued to cause havoc down the left flank and Rebic got his name on the scoresheet. Theo Hernandez combined with Leao and the former cut the ball back to the former Eintracht Frankfurt man, who fired home first time with confidence.
Moments after they made it 3-1 Milan added a fourth goal and yet again it came down the left flank. A combination between Rebic and Theo this time saw the latter put a dangerous cross in that could only be diverted into his own net by the Vicenza defender.
There was a moment of worry early in the second half as Tonali dropped to the floor and then limped off straight down the tunnel with what was clearly a muscle problem.
In the 50th minute it was 5-1 to the Rossoneri. Even though they were a man down on the field for a corner, Tomori snuck in at the far post to head a Bennacer corner back across goal and into the far corner.
Three minutes before the hour mark, Junior Messias was the latest to make his way off with an ankle injury, and Alexis Saelemaekers came on to replace him.
In the 69th minute, Milan added a sixth goal that was very well worked. A quick counter-attack saw Brahim Diaz spin with the ball just past the halfway line, and he put Rebic through on goal who finished with confidence past the onrushing goalkeeper.
The cheers from the crowd present ramped up with just under 15 minutes left as De Ketelaere came on for his first action in a Milan shirt. He should have won a penalty for a touch near the byline that impeded him getting through but the referee didn’t oblige.
Pre season over , time for the real games.
Messias has been the most impressive player this summer, not just for his goals but his pressing, movement and he actually looks to pass now.
Tonali injury is a bummer. He definitely will miss some time, which means that Milan will start the season without both of our defensive midfielder starters from last season.
Another midfielder has been and should be a must.
There is one more friendly match.
Bennacer IMO was better than Kessie last season (despite Kessie starting more games due to Isma having some injuries); and while Tonali stepped up huge in some big games… he was inconsistent during the year. I think Isma was our best defensive mid last year and that’s why now I’m seeing articles that each of Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal are interesting in trying to pry him away from us. We NEED him to stay. he’s a big key for our team and Pioli’s system.