AC Milan did a real masterclass, beating Sassuolo 6-1 and advancing to the Coppa Italia quarterfinals with their fantastic form this season. The seemingly ordinary match turned out to be a show of attacking brilliance, efficiency, and tactical control. Paulo Fonseca's team will now face the winner of Roma vs. Sampdoria in February 2025.
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With Samuel Chukwueze stealing the headlines with his first brace for the club, other star men such as Rafael Leão and Tammy Abraham chipped in with what was an assured, confident display with none of the inconsistencies shown elsewhere.
Breathtaking
It was apparent from the first whistle that Sassuolo would be in for a tough night at San Siro. Milan pressed high, created early chances, and opened the scoring in the 12th minute as Reijnders found Chukwueze, who fired home on the rebound after his initial shot struck the post.
What followed was indeed a goal galore. In the 17th minute, Reijnders doubled the lead with a clinical finish after a sharp cutback from Leão. Chukwueze struck again a little after, with precision in front of goal, 3-0. At the dying minutes of the first period, Rafael Leão sealed it for Milan with a great finish following Loftus-Cheek's assist.
The first 45 were a show of Milan's offensive power: with quick combinations and deadly finishes, Sassuolo couldn't find any answers as Milan showcased why they are on such a rich vein of form.
Controlled and rotated
As the match was under control, Paulo Fonseca took advantage of halftime to rotate his squad, bringing Torriani, Pulisic, Okafor, and Musah. These changes brought fresh energy into the team without disrupting Milan's dominance.
In the 55th minute, it was Calabria who scored Milan's fifth, following up after a corner hit the post. The first of the season for Calabria was a reward for his good performances both in defense and attack.
Sassuolo managed to score in the 59th minute through Mulattieri, but any hopes of comeback quickly faded. Abraham restores Milan's commanding lead with the sixth goal, finishing off a well-crafted move involving Okafor. The match ended 6-1, with no major events in the closing minutes.
Youth impact
The match also highlighted the presence of young talents like Torriani and Bartesaghi, who came on in the second half. Both players showed promise, proving they could play an important role in Milan's future. Integrating young players into a star-studded squad is never easy, but Milan appears to have struck the right balance.
What's next
The win over Sassuolo marked Milan’s third consecutive match with at least three open-play goals, a feat last achieved in the 2021/22 season. The team now prepares to face Atalanta away, a matchup that promises to be far more challenging. With the festive period bringing a busy schedule, Fonseca will need to manage player rotation carefully to avoid fatigue and injuries.