Resounding success of the Milan that for the first historic victory at the Stadium against Juventus he chose a key direct match to qualify for the Champions League, winning with a clear 3-0 that puts him ahead also in the direct confrontation with the Bianconeri (1-3 in the first leg). With Ibrahimovic more careful to attract the Juventus defense, they are Diaz and Rebic the winning arrows of Pioli with two nets at the intersection of the posts. First goal in A for Tomori, perfect in defense paired with Kjaer. In Juventus badly Ronaldo and Morata, practically absent, but if the team is soft and without ideas the first responsible is Andrea Pirlo.
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JUVENTUS
Szczesny 6 – An evening of peaks for the Polish goalkeeper: first he contributes to Diaz’s goal with a wrong exit that delivers the ball to the Spaniard, then redeems himself by rejecting Kessie’s penalty. Bravo and courageous also out on Calhanoglu launched at the net, he can do nothing on the right at the intersection of Rebic.
Square 5.5 – It should be the pawn that highlights Hernandez’s defensive limits, instead he lets himself be surprised on a couple of occasions by the Rossoneri winger without ever putting him in difficulty in turn.
De Ligt 6 – The battle with Ibra spares no blows to be given and taken. Important in closing also in facing a couple of gallops by Theo Hernandez.
Chiellini 5.5 – Leave to De Ligt the hit of a physical battle with Ibrahimovic. Milan allows him to start the action, then he is guilty in the hand ball for the penalty immediately with an arm too wide to go unnoticed.
Alex Sandro 5.5 – Calabria does not attack him and in the defensive phase is noted for an acrobatic advance on Ibrahimovic. The Brazilian, however, with Chiesa in front, shows up only in the final in support of the maneuver without aiming for the bottom.
McKennie 5 – For an hour he plays on the right wing without finding a way to surprise Hernandez. Even when moved in the middle of the field, however, it does not affect.
Rabiot 5 – Performance without positive or negative ideas for the Frenchman, never really able to oppose the Rossoneri dribble.
Bentancur 5 – In the control room he still shows several limits, often making mistakes in game changes even without pressure. He touched the goal at the beginning of the second half with his insertion rewarded by Morata.
Church 5 – The decisive and devastating performance of the first leg is just a memory. Deployed on the left he never manages to put Calabria and Saelemaekers in difficulty.
Morata 4.5 – Performance to be forgotten for the Spaniard, never dangerous and above all never able to try to worry the AC Milan rearguard either in person or with movements. He shows up only by freeing Bentancur at the shot.
Ronaldo 4 – Never in the game, not only disappeared from the battle but also from the Juventus offensive radar he who often and willingly tries it in first person. Zero shots, zero important dribbles and no play.
gave 22 ‘st Kulusevski 5.5 – Sent on by Pirlo to change the game on the wing, he finds himself with a team broken in two.
dal 33 ‘st Dybala 6 – The most dangerous occasion of the match is his, in the final and at 0-3. The personal action ends with a left-handed on the edge of the pole.
All .: Pirlo 4 – Bad very bad. Team without bite, determination and ideas as in the last few weeks. This time Ronaldo does not help him, but the team’s limp attitude in a vital direct match for the future is unacceptable, and his responsibility.
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MILAN
Donnarumma 6 – After a confused first part of the race with a couple of empty and dangerous exits, he redeems himself by closing on Bentancur at the beginning of the second half. Then there are no more dangers in its parts.
Calabria 6 – Pioli’s diktat is clear, the setting is three with only one full-back to push. Leave this task to Theo, instead flanking Kjaer and Tomori in cover avoiding being caught behind.
Kjaer 7,5 – Performance as a professor in the middle of the defense, enhancing one’s sense of position and unleashing an almost flawless performance on high balls and beyond.
Tomori 7.5 – Find the first goal in Serie A with an imperious detachment in the middle of the area, crowning a capital performance for early and physical play.
Hernandez 6,5 – In the first half he tries to be the decisive factor plowing the left wing up to the penalty area, but not finding the decisive play. In the second half he remains a bit more shy to control Cuadrado and Kulusevski.
Kessie 5.5 – He has a sensationally wrong penalty on his conscience, with a slow-motion run-up that then enhanced Szczesny’s reactivity. Even in the middle of the field his presence is less cumbersome than usual.
Bennacer 6 – Less protagonist in the dribble phase with the new line-up studied by Pioli. He is limited to being precise in the dribble.
Saelemaekers 6 – Usual performance more useful than showy, it is always present in the two phases to help teammates and be a support.
Diaz 7,5 – A surprise move by Pioli, the Spaniard responds with a best-in-the-field performance by floating between the lines in support of Ibra. With technique and dribbling he creates chances for his teammates, before breaking the deadlock with a right at the corner of the posts. His also the action that leads to the penalty then missed by Kessie.
Calhanoglu 6,5 – Starting from the left he has more space than expected, but often fights with the ball at the decisive moment. But he contributes with his set pieces to two of Milan’s three goals, first leading Szczesny to error and then directly drawing Tomori on the occasion of the third goal.
Ibrahimovic 6 – In the goal area he does not show up, but fights on every ball taking and giving doors. Not very lucid in offensive plays, his presence is enough to keep Chiellini and De Ligt apprehensive even if he often gets caught offside. He comes out due to an injury.
dal 21′ st Rebic 7 – Enter from the first point in place of Ibrahimovic and remove the cobwebs from the intersection of the posts with an incredible right.
dal 25′ st Krunic 6,5 – Replaces Diaz with completely different characteristics in the middle of the field. It gives substance and physicality to the fight.
dal 36 ‘st Dalot e Meite sv
All.: Pioli 7,5 – Change the face of his Milan by deploying Diaz alongside Ibrahimovic and disguising a 4-4-2. A move that pays off thanks to the vivacity of the Spaniard in front, but also for greater defensive solidity.
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