Milan, 25 February 2022 – Second consecutive draw for Milan that in the first of the advances of 27th round of Serie A he comes stopped at 1-1 dall’Udinese and wastes another opportunity to extend over Inter who this evening will have the opportunity to win back Milan against Genoa but above all have another match to recover against Bologna. Pioli’s men, protagonists of a strong-willed first half but with a few too many inaccuracies, tried once again to make the game by taking the lead in the 28th minute with Leao’s eleventh goal of the seasonbut in the second half they suffered the powerful return of Udinese, capable with great personality of find equal in the 66th minute with the goal of the newly entered Udogie, challenged by the Rossoneri for an alleged touch of the hand of the Juventus defender, but not recognized by the control of the VAR. A cold shower for Milan who, despite the final forcing that brought Leao close to the brace on a couple of occasions, was no longer able to unblock the situation.
The choices of the coaches
In the 4-2-3-1 Rossoneri, in front of Maignan, the starting defense returns with Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli and Theo Hernandez. In the median Kessié sees himself again who is paired with Tonali while Messias, Brahim Diaz and Leao act on the trocar who support the only striker Olivier Giroud. Cioffi instead focuses on a 3-5-2 with Silvestri between the posts and the defensive package made up of Becao, Marì and Perez. Molina and Zeegeelar instead preside over the flanks with the trio formed by Arslan, Walace and Makengo in midfield. Finally, the Juventus attacking duo is made up of the former Rossoneri Deulofeu and Beto.
First half
Sparkling start to the match, which sees AC Milan claim a penalty after just twenty seconds due to a bland and fortuitous contact between Leao and the Juventus defenders and Udinese respond with a weak header but from an excellent position by Beto after 2 ‘. The thrust of the Rossoneri, who control the ball, does not end, but Pioli’s men lack precision in the finalization phase and so on the other hand Udinese tries to take advantage of these rare opportunities by exploiting the counterattack. However, it is Milan that really ignites the challenge with Leao who, al 28’, takes advantage of the first, real opportunity of the evening, by picking up a brushstroke of Tonali, forcefully overcoming Becao and piercing Silvestri with his right. The advantage loosened the reins of the Rossoneri who in the 33rd minute almost doubled with Messias, stopped a few steps from the goal by the providential intervention of the Juventus defense. However, the enthusiasm of the Milan home risked very soon because in a contrast with Arslan the Portuguese sprained his left ankle. After the initial apprehension that leads Pioli to warm up Rebic too, the AC Milan striker born in 1999 manages to grit his teeth and arrive at the end of a substantially balanced first half but closed by the Rossoneri ahead 1-0.
The recovery
The Friulians return to the field with a good attitude and in the 48th minute they complain about a contact in the area between Tomori’s knee and Beto, which however starts outside the Rossoneri’s defensive penalty area. On the overturning in front of him, Leao is spread out by Becao – yellow for him – and again has to resort to the care of the Rossoneri medical staff. Some problems also for Giroud on the consequent free kick, but he regularly takes his place in the Rossoneri attack as well as the Portuguese. Cioffi instead tries to mix the cards with the insertions of Udogie and Pereyra and his Udinese in the 59th minute touches the par with Arslan’s diagonal from the edge that touches the post to the left of Maignan. A flash that lights up the Bianconeri who become dangerous even with Udogie’s shot deflected by Tomori into the arms of the Rossoneri goalkeeper. However, the new Juventus player is rewarded at 66 ‘when, on the development of a beat and retort, he finds the goal with a 1-1 draw. A goal that infuriates the Rossoneri, however, who complain about an alleged touch of the hand of the Veronese, not recognized, however, by the control of the VAR. All to be redone then for Pioli’s men – who also throws Saelemaekers and Rebic into the fray – who roll up their hands and start attacking again, touching the advantage in the 76th minute with Leao, who is stopped on the goal line after trying a ” sombrero ”on the Juventus goalkeeper, and a minute later with Romagnoli who was caught in a slight offside at the moment of the shot. In the 81st minute it was Becao’s touch that stopped the Portuguese one step away from the goal. In the final, the Rossoneri continue to attack with their heads down, exposing themselves to the restarts of the Bianconeri who in full recovery risk even placing the sensational overtaking blow with the lash from the edge of the former Deulofeu, the last jolt of the match.
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