Milan-Salzburg 4-0 (14 ‘Giroud, 46’ Krunic, 57 ‘Giroud, 90 + 1’ Messias)
MILAN (by Simone Bernabei)
Tatarusanu 7 – In the first half, when Salzburg were in the game, he put in a sense of position and coldness. Exactly what was needed by a Milan who, by cashing in on a goal, would have risked seeing ghosts
Rabbit 7 – Two snapshots: the slide that limits Okafor launched at the net, the 35-meter shot in the second half. It is now one of the absolute certainties of Milan that has reached the knockout stages of the Champions League. From 86 ‘Gabbia sv
Kjaer 6.5 – In a game where experience risks becoming a factor, and indeed it is, Pioli does not give up on it. And despite some flaws in the first half he leads his team mates and not with authority
Tomori 7 – That slip, that closure in the first half, is worth as much and perhaps more than a goal scored. Timing, attention and concentration where and when it is needed
Theo Hernandez 7 – After a few empty passages, he returns to being the devilish hammer we all know on the left. A pole after 3 minutes, sprint after sprint, repetitive dangerous actions. This (high) level is always needed in the Champions League. From 77 ‘Ballo-Touré sv
Bennacer 7 – Turns that is a marvel and Milan benefits enormously. Epee and foil, but always with the quality that the team lacked in Turin. From 69 ‘ Escape 6 – It gives substance and makes Bennacer catch his breath when the game has little to say
Tonals 7 – A hair below the level of the quality of the maneuver compared to the colleague in the department, but among the many things he does is the perfect corner kick for Giroud’s first goal
Rebic 6.5 – Intensity and agonistic nastiness by the ton, but also some errors in the support phase. He puts a hand on the second goal and closes with the captain’s armband
Krunic 7 – A few flaws in the first half during the support phase, then the goal of the Rossoneri’s apotheosis at the beginning of the second half which gives tranquility to the team and effectively turns off Salzburg entirely. From 77 ‘De Ketelaere sv
Leo 6.5 – First half almost absent and the maneuver suffers. In the second half he shakes, sows panic in more than one circumstance, sending the Austrian defense out of control and setting the San Siro on fire. Even if the aim is lacking, on the occasion of the cross. From 69 ‘ Messiah 6.5 – Enter, help in the defensive phase and score 4-0. Great impact per game but already over
Giroud 8.5 – It’s the one with the most Champions tokens and it shows. Milan literally clings to him and does well: the head shot for the 1-0, the assist for the 2-0, the goal of the 3-0, the half assist for Messia at 4-0 and many little big things within a game that ended in triumph. For him and for Milan
Stefano Pioli 8 – Between De Keteaere and Diaz chooses Krunic. And as almost always happens, the facts prove him right. Milan returns to the knockout stages of the Champions League almost 9 years after their last participation and even in this goal there is a lot, a lot of his hand
SALZBURG (by Marco Pieracci)
Old 5 – He fails to get Giroud’s header out the door, on which he seems late. He rejects badly on the goal canceled against Milan. He takes four without making a real save.
Dedication 4.5 – The Rossoneri left chain is scary: Leao and Theo do what they want, always finding the bar raised. Clumsy the postponement attempted 3-0.
usually 5.5 – He plays a little by surprise and suffers from Leao’s jerks, not being able to hold him when he changes pace. He stays in the locker room. From 46 ‘ Bernardo 4.5 – From bad to worse, Giroud is immediately lost.
Pavlovic 4.5 – Followed by Juventus for the restyling of the defense, the positioning at the corner kick is not the best of the spots. And on the other networks it is no better.
Wober 5 – Usually he is the central, this time he is given the opportunity to push in the band. He puts in a couple of interesting crosses but is late on the diagonal on Krunic. From 77 ‘Ulmer sv
Seiwald 5 – At San Siro he is almost as a spectator because in the middle of the field Bennacer and Tonali hide the ball from him for ninety minutes.
Gourna-Douath 5.5 – Starting chest out to send a signal, it’s actually a flash in the pan. He gets hard on Theo but he’s getting hurt. From 64 ‘ 5.5 cameras – He goes to the shooting with little conviction.
Kjærgaard 5.5 – Insidious in the insertions without the ball: he is blocked by Tomori at 0-0. In the first half he stretches the team with his gallops then disappears.
Sucic 5.5 – Dancing between the lines is there in the middle creates some headaches for the Milan defense. He gives Okafor a great vertical ball, he tries to the end with little precision.
Adamu 5.5 – It never stands still to give unpredictability. Off to favor the cuts of his teammates, when he fills the area he finds on his way Tatarusanu. From 62 ‘ Sesco 6- Potential champion, test Tatarusanu’s reflexes.
Ok for 6 – Heralded as danger number one, in the field he confirms that he is an uncomfortable customer by always making the right move. He gives the impression of preaching in the desert. From 77 ‘Koita sv
Matthias Jaissle 5 – He leads the youngest team in the Champions League and competing for the qualification at San Siro on the last day with a group of twenty-year-olds is still a success. Faithful to the club’s philosophy, but courage is not enough: the attitude is to be commended, the defensive phase is thrilling.
