AC Milan 2-0 AS Roma
It was billed as a Serie A clash both sides needed to win, and in the end, the side that needed the points the most, the one that showed the most desire and hunger when it mattered, won the day.
They left it fairly late.
Until the final 16 minutes, in fact, as Ante Rebic and Hakan Calhanoglu provided two Serie A 2020 highlights for Milan from the penalty spot as they moved up to seventh spot as a result.
While Milan appear to be a work in progress, Roma, who remain fifth, seem to be going backwards and unlikely to qualify for the Champions League – a competition of which they reached the semi-finals only two seasons ago.
Highlights of the game
There was a mixed feeling before kick-off about which Milan we would see: The side which had lost only one of its last seven matches, or the outfit which had won just twice out of its last eight at home?
Indeed, as well as losing to Genoa in its most recent home game, Milan had dropped points to Hellas Verona, Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Napoli and Lazio at San Siro since early November, as they watched city rivals Inter Milan jump well ahead of them in the standings.
So, the joy amongst the players and staff after they secured their first win of the season against a team in the top six was tangible.
The crucial moments, when they arrived, were arguably of Roma’s own making.
Davide Zappacosta gave the ball away to Rebic and that caused panic.
Franck Kessie saw his acrobatic volley parried away by Antonio Mirante. Rebic then hit the rebound off the post before the Croatian managed to turn in the rebound from close range.
Then another defensive error followed.
Theo Hernandez burst into the penalty box and was clipped by on-loan Manchester United defender Chris Smalling. Calhanoglu duly converted the resultant penalty, blasting the ball into the roof of the net.
Until that point, the match had been in the balance.
Following a minute’s silence before kick-off for former Milan and Roma striker Pierino Prati (who passed away last week), in addition to a touching tribute to the victims of Covid-19, Roma started brightly.
Another ex-Man Utd man, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, pulled the ball back for to Justin Kluivert, whose shot was fingertipped away to safety by Gianluigi Donnarumma – described before kick-off as the best goalkeeper in the world by the legendary Paolo Maldini.
Shortly after that, the in-form Edin Dzeko failed to keep a free header on target from a Kluivert delivery.
It took a while for Milan to create a chance but when it came – midway through the first half – Giacomo Bonaventura could only blast the ball over the bar after a Rebic flick.
The Croatian also put Mirante under immense pressure on a back-pass, but the veteran goalkeeper managed to dribble his way out of trouble.
It was then Calhanoglu’s turn to miss a free header before the same player tested Mirante with a free-kick.
Good defending from Smalling, throwing himself in the path of a strike from Alexis Saelemaekers – linked this week with a permanent move to the club – and another important save from Mirante to deny Calhanoglu kept the game goalless.
The visiting goalkeeper made an even better save to keep out a scuffed Lucas Paqueta effort.
Then came the defensive aberrations and Milan took full advantage. For now, at least, they are up to seventh.
Key statistics
Milan have won two consecutive top-flight home games against Roma for the first time since 2004, under Carlo Ancelotti.
This match lifted Milan to minus one goal difference and 42 points. They have picked up 21 points in 11 matches in Serie A in 2020, as many as they gained in their first 17 games before the turn of the year.
With 10 matches remaining between now and August 2, if they stay in seventh spot they will play Europa League football next term after Napoli’s Coppa Italia triumph last week.
What’s next?
The SBOBET Serie A 2020 betting odds will continue to change from day to day and no wonder with such a hectic schedule.
That schedule continues and Milan now face two away games within a week.
Relegation scrappers SPAL welcome them on Wednesday night (July 1) before they travel to the Stadio Olimpico to take on title challengers Lazio at the weekend.
Roma host Udinese on Thursday evening (July 2) and visit Napoli – the side directly below them in the table – next Sunday night.
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