Domenico Berardi inflicted the final blow as Milan slipped up 3-1 against Sassuolo at San Siro, suffering back-to-back Serie A defeats for the first time since April.
Alessio Romagnoli’s powerful header had been Milan’s reward for a strong start, but Gianluca Scamacca’s excellent long-range strike and an own goal from the unlucky Simon Kjaer helped mid-table Sassuolo reach the interval with a lead.
Berardi finished off Milan with a fine goal in the 66th minute, the Italy forward showing his class to outwit Romagnoli before beating Mike Maignan.
A red card for captain Romagnoli for hauling down Gregoire Defrel with effectively a rugby tackle compounded a bad day for Milan, who began the day level on points with leaders Napoli.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was heavily involved in the opening exchanges and a dominant Milan had Sassuolo where they wanted them, pegged inside their own half.
The expected breakthrough came in the 21st minute, with Theo Hernandez’s cross from a short corner on the left headed in at the near post by Romagnoli.
Milan had avoided defeat in their last 13 Serie A matches when scoring the opening goal, but here they were jolted by an equaliser within three minutes. Scamacca was left with space to shoot from 25 yards and found the top right corner, scoring via the underside of the crossbar.
Sassuolo went ahead with a freakish goal in the 33rd minute. A goalline clearance by Hernandez reached Scamacca, after a corner caused havoc, and he hit a fierce shot from 10 yards that pinged firstly off goalkeeper Maignan and then into the net off Kjaer, who was standing in close attendance.
Milan started the second half full of purpose but lacking in potency and their fizz soon went flat.
Berardi capitalised with a goal that showed him at his best, skilfully sidestepping Romagnoli in the penalty area before shooting through the legs of Maignan for his seventh goal of the season.
Romagnoli could have no complaints over his sending-off for denying Defrel a run through on goal in the 77th minute, completing a miserable day for the Rossoneri.
What does it mean? Is it happening all over again?
After following up a 4-3 loss to Fiorentina with a dreadful display here, Milan are having a worrying stumble and reigning champions Inter are in hot pursuit, just as they were around this time last year after another fast start from the Rossoneri. Inter soon took control of the title race.
This was not the performance of a team with serious title aspirations, and the fifth red card of Romagnoli’s Serie A career summed up their day. Sassuolo’s attackers carried the greater verve, outmatching Ibrahimovic and his supporting cast.
Sassuolo do it again
There were high hopes at Milan that this might be their season as they seek a first Scudetto since the 2010-11 season. Now, however, after following up a 1-1 draw with Inter and the Fiorentina loss with another defeat, they are in a rut.
This was the first time they have lost after scoring the opening goal in Serie A since April 21, when it was also Sassuolo who came from behind to take the points. Milan lost to Lazio in the game after suffering that blow, but had avoided successive losses since then, until Sassuolo came calling again.
Berardi and Scamacca take charge
Each team finished the game with 15 shots to their name, but Sassuolo led 5-2 on shots on target and in Berardi and Scamacca they had the two outstanding forwards on the field. They both had a game-high four shots, both hitting the target twice.
Maignan had to make three saves to keep the score down. Ibrahimovic won one of five duels, while Berardi won seven of 13, and that was a factor in how the game played out.
Key Opta Stats:
– Milan have conceded two own goals in a single Serie A campaign for the first time since 2016-17 (Ibrahimovic v Bologna and Kjaer in this game).
– They are the first side against whom Berardi has scored 10 Serie A goals. The Sassuolo star has been involved in 14 goals in 15 top-flight meetings against them (four assists).
– Romagnoli got his first Serie A goal since November 29 2020, against Fiorentina, when he also scored with a header from corner.
– The defender is the 12th different Milan scorer in Serie A this season, no side has had more so far (level with Inter and Napoli).
– Romagnoli is also the first Milan player to have scored and received a red card in a single Serie A game since M’Baye Niang against Napoli in August 2016.https://www.youtube.com/embed/X1l5bwt5p-U?feature=oembed
What’s next?
Midweek games are coming up as Milan travel to Genoa for a Wednesday evening Serie A assignment, while at the same time Sassuolo host Napoli.
