In a captivating Serie A clash, Milan and Sassuolo battled to a 2-2 stalemate, with Davide Bartesaghi shining with a brace for the home side. The match, which took place on the 15th fixture of the season, saw Ismael Koné open the scoring for Sassuolo in the 12th minute, igniting the excitement at the San Siro.
Bartesaghi responded emphatically, scoring both of his goals in quick succession—first in the 33rd minute of the first half and then again just a minute into the second half, turning the tide in favor of Milan. However, Armand Laurienté salvaged a point for Sassuolo, equalizing in the 76th minute with a well-placed shot.
The visitors could have taken all three points late in the match, but Laurienté’s powerful strike hit the post in the closing moments of the game.
Laurienté stood out as the most impactful player, contributing not only with his goal but also with three attempts on target throughout the match. On the other hand, Bartesaghi’s performance was commendable, hitting the net twice and representing Milan’s offensive threat.
Luka Modric showcased his skill by nutmegging Ismael Koné in a dazzling display of talent during the first half.
Milan’s head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, employed a 3-5-2 formation, featuring Mike Maignan in goal, with a defensive trio of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, and Strahinja Pavlovic. The midfield comprised Alexis Saelemaekers, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot, and Davide Bartesaghi, while the attack was led by Christian Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku.
Sassuolo, managed by Raffaele Longo, opted for a 4-3-3 setup with Arijanet Muric guarding the net. The defensive line included Sebastian Walukiewicz, Jay Idzes, Tarik Muharemovic, and Fali Candé. In midfield were Kristian Thorstvedt, Nemanja Matic, and Ismael Koné, with Cristian Volpato, Andrea Pinamonti, and Alieu Fadera leading the forward line.
Referee Valerio Crezzini officiated the match, which saw Milan’s points tally rise to 32, maintaining their position at the top of the table. Sassuolo sits at ninth place with 21 points.
Substitutions for Milan
59’ 2H – Matteo Gabbia was replaced by Koni De Winter
72’ 2H – Christian Pulisic was replaced by Samuele Ricci
89’ 2H – Alexis Saelemaekers was replaced by Zachary Athekame
90’ 2H – Davide Bartesaghi was replaced by Pervis Estupiñán
Yellow Cards for Milan:
22’ 1H – Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Unsporting behavior)
Substitutions for Sassuolo
58’ 2H – Alieu Fadera was replaced by Armand Laurienté and Fali Candé was replaced by Josh Doig
85’ 2H – Andrea Pinamonti was replaced by Walid Cheddira and Cristian Volpato was replaced by Luca Moro
Yellow Cards for Sassuolo:
22’ 1H – Alieu Fadera (Unsporting behavior), 58’ 2H – Tarik Muharemovic (Unsporting behavior), 65’ 2H – Kristian Thorstvedt (Unsporting behavior)
In their next outing, Milan is set to visit Como 1907, while Sassuolo will play against Torino at home.