Too much Milan and too little Venice. Let’s clarify immediately, however, that the merits of Pioli’s team, which wins over the final 3-0, are greater than the demerits of Zanetti’s. Immediately ahead thanks to Ibrahimovic, the Rossoneri obtained their third consecutive success dominating in the first half and then spreading in the second half with a show of strength, full of play and personality. It is easy to underline the great performances of Leao who inspired the 1-0 goal and of Theo Hernandez who signed his first double as captain, while it is difficult to find someone who has disappointed because Bakayoko also proves decisive in the middle of the field, while the reserve pair in defense Gabbia-Kalulu does not make us regret the injured Kjaer and the unavailable Romagnoli and Tomori, absent for Covid. This also explains the fact that after four games Maignan ends up undefeated and never unemployed as this time, to the delight of Pioli who is the great architect of this Milan more than ever in the running for the Scudetto.
IMMEDIATELY IBRA – This time Ibrahimovic plays from the beginning in place of Giroud and is immediately forgiven for the missed penalty against Roma. Leao sprints on the left and on his perfect cross in the center the Swede has no difficulty in deflecting the 1-0 ball from a few steps, taking advantage of the freedom granted to him by Ceccaroni and Svoboda, the two disastrous central defenders of Venezia. Less than 3 minutes have passed and Milan could not have started the match against Venezia better, which had also made Inter suffer at home, before giving up only in the final.
THE LEAO DIFFERENCE – Zanetti’s team tries to restart, but Aramu’s push is not enough because the Rossoneri control with great confidence. Merit of Tonali who is confirmed in great condition, but also of his teammate Bakayoko, preferred to Krunic, finally recovering, after too many uncertainties in the first part of the season. The difference, however, is always made by Leao with his accelerations on the left, with the only defect of not being able to conclude when he has the possibility. Ibrahimovic actually remains a bit isolated, but Milan still manages to make themselves dangerous with a free kick from Theo Hernandez and a great conclusion from Florenzi that enhance Romero’s reflexes.
DOUBLE THEO – Only in the end of the first half did Venice manage to get close to Maignan, but the French goalkeeper must not work overtime as against Rome, because in front of him the reserve defensive pair Gabbia-Kalulu does not allow Henry and Okereke spaces. With Messias replacing Saelemaekers at the start of the second half, Pioli’s team managed to reap immediately what they had sown in the first 46 ‘. And once again it is Leao who starts the action by launching in his lane Hernandez who goes his way, sows Mazzocchi and beats Romero with a left under the crossbar.
TRIS THEO – Hit and sunk in its lagoon, Venice disappears permanently and Milan can have fun. Ibrahimovic has the 3-0 ball on his feet but Svoboda manages to reject, repeating himself immediately after on the goal line, but with one arm, on Hernandez’s counter. Penalty and expulsion, with Hernandez himself converting from the spot. And at that point with Venezia in ten and a quarter of an hour plenty still to play, Pioli can indulge in a quiet turnover, inserting first Rebic for Leao and then the couple Giroud-Maldini in place of the starting one Ibrahinovic-Diaz. With the latest gift to Luca Stanga who in the end detects Florenzi and thus makes his debut in Serie A, happy to anticipate in the best way the party for his first twenty years which he will celebrate between two Sundays. That evening the Milan will face Juventus at San Siro and in any case will look down on them, thanks to a ranking of a great team that can and must continue to believe in the Scudetto.
THE TABLE
VENICE 0-3 AC MILAN
VENICE (4-3-1-2): Romero; Mazzocchi, Svoboda, Ceccaroni, Haps; Cuisance (from 15th Kiyine), Ampadu, Busio (from 33rd Fiordilino); Aramu (from 15’st Johnsen); Henry (from 15’st Crnigoj), Okereke (from 44’st Bjarkason). Herdsman Zanetti
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi (44’st Stanga), Kalulu, Gabbia, Hernandez; Tonali, Bakayoko; Saelemaekers (from 1st Messias), Diaz (from 28th Maldini), Leao (from 17th Rebic); Ibrahimovic (from 28’st Giroud). Herds Pioli
AMMONITES: 5’pt Saelemaekers (M), 37’pt Gabbia (M), 11’st Ceccaroni (V), 28’st Tonali (M)
ESPULSI: 13’st Svoboda (V)
MARCATORI: 2’pt Ibrahimovic (M), 3’st Hernandez (M), 14’st Hernandez (R) (M)
ASSIST: 2’pt Leao (M), 3’st Leao (M)
REFEREE: Massimiliano Irrati from Pistoia.
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