Brahim Diaz' 9th minute strike was enough for AC Milan to secure three points against Sampdoria; Cagliari came from behind to draw 2-2 against Spezia.
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AC Milan opened their 2021/22 Serie A campaign with a 1-0 win over Sampdoria at Luigi Ferraris. Brahim Diaz’ 9th minute strike was enough for the away side to secure the three points. Milan coach Stefano Pioli included a number of new signings in the playing XI. This included Olivier Giroud and Goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The Rossoneri finished the last Serie A campaign in the second spot behind Inter Milan. They qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2013/14.
Early in the match, Rafael Leao showed good ball control and pace to get past Bartosz Bereszynski. A few minutes later right-back Davide Calabria dispossessed Tommasso Augelo and delivered a low cross to the penalty area. Diaz came running in and slotted the ball past Audero with a low shot. The shot lacked venom and Audero should have done better.
The Spanish midfielder joined the Italian side on loan from Real Madrid last season. He has extended his stay at the club for two more years.
Meanwhile, Maignan who joined from Lille as a replacement for Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma made some five saves to hold onto the slender lead. Manolo Gabbiadini’s free-kick was kept out by the French goalkeeper’s finger-tip save. The 29-year-old striker was Sampdoria’s busiest player on the night. He stole the ball from Theo Hernandez inside the box and forced another save out of Maignan.
Giroud, who was making his AC Milan debut after joining from Chelsea this summer had a quiet game and didn’t get too many chances to make his mark. However the veteran French striker is going to be a pivotal part of Pioli’s plans. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Giroud are the two big strikers in the squad. With Ibrahimovic still recovering from a knee injury the 34-year-old Frenchman will be the main man up front as his physical prowess and aerial strength are going to be crucial for AC Milan’s attack.
In the other match of the day, Cagliari came from behind to draw 2-2 against Spezia. Joao Pedro scored a brace after Emmanuel Gyasi and Simone Bastoni gave a two goal lead to the away side at Sardegna Arena.
Former Paris Saint-Germain player Thiago Motta was making his second stint as a Serie A manager in the Spezia dugout after his first managerial role at Genoa ended after just 10 games. Even though the ex-Italian players side took a two-goal lead the home side fought back to share the points.
Gyasi gave Spezia a 7th minute lead with a brilliant low shot from outside the box. In the 58th minute, Bastoni doubled the lead from Kelvin Amian’s cross.
Meanwhile two minutes after the hour-mark, at the other end, Pedro pulled one back with a brilliantly placed grounded striker from outside the area. And four minutes later, the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Jeroen Zoet had fouled Leonardo Pavoletti inside the box. Pedro stepped put and converted the spot-kick to level the score.
