AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by a resilient Sassuolo side at the San Siro on Sunday evening in a Serie A match. This setback opens the door for their closest rivals, Napoli and Inter, to close the gap on league leaders, intensifying the competition at the top of the Serie A table.
Match scenario: A shaky start and an incomplete comeback
The match didn't get off to a perfect start for the home side, as they found themselves trailing early on, in the 13th minute. The visitors took the lead through Canadian Ismail Koné, who exploited a defensive lapse, skillfully dribbled past defenders, and expertly slotted the ball past French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Despite Milan's attempts to get back into the game, including a powerful shot from Frenchman Adrien Rabiot, Kosovar goalkeeper Arijanet Muric proved an impenetrable wall in the first half.
The turning point came courtesy of young defender Davide Bartesaghi, who stepped up to the role of hero and scored the equalizer in the 34th minute, capitalizing on a perfectly placed cross from Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Bartesaghi wasn't finished there, however, as he returned at the start of the second half to score Milan's second goal in the 47th minute, making headlines in the Italian press.
A historic record for Partisagi
Thanks to his brace in this match, Davide Bartesaghi achieved a historic feat, becoming the youngest defender to score for Milan in the Italian league (19 years and 350 days) since the immortal legend Paolo Maldini, who achieved this feat in February 1988. This number reflects the value of the Milan academy and its ability to supply the first team with young talents capable of making a difference in crucial moments.
Sassuolo... the persistent jinx at San Siro
Despite taking the lead, Milan couldn't hold on, as Sassuolo equalized in the 77th minute through substitute Armand Llorente. This result reinforces Sassuolo's reputation as a bogey team for Milan in recent years, having previously secured some impressive victories at the San Siro, most notably a 5-2 win. This demonstrates that matches between the two sides are always fiercely contested and full of surprises, regardless of the league standings.
The repercussions of the draw and the Super Cup match in Saudi Arabia
This draw comes at a critical time for Milan, who are preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Italian Super Cup. They will face Napoli in the semi-final next Thursday in a must-win match. This domestic setback could negatively impact the team's morale, especially with Napoli and Inter closing in on the top spot, making the upcoming rounds crucial in the Scudetto race.
