Giroud stopped Milan’s free fall

Milan stopped their free fall in 2023 with a narrow but important victory over Torino (1-0) that ended a disastrous streak of seven games without a win in all competitions and five straight defeats.

It was a relief for the reigning Italian champions, who temporarily climbed from sixth to third place and will face Tottenham’s visit to the San Siro on Tuesday in the round of 16 (first leg) of the Champions League with some confidence. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, called up for the first time more than eight months after his serious knee injury, remained on the bench and did not appear again.

Stefano Pioli, who was heavily criticized for his change of system in the derby against Inter last week (1-0), ignored the atmosphere and kept the line of three central defenders, but Milan’s problem in a no soul first part is in the stage of creation.

Leao returned to ownership

Without attacking ideas, the ‘rossoneri’ were for many minutes at the expense of the inspiration of Brahim Díaz even without contacting Rafael Leao, whom Pioli returned to possession after leaving him on the bench against at Inter from the start.

Torino, who returned to San Siro after eliminating Milan in the Coppa Italia on January 11 (0-1), showed a more organized game, better combined in midfield although he lacked depth.

His only chance in this first half without shots between the three sticks came as a result of a serious error by Simon Kjaer, who lost the ball to Tonny Sanabria and only the providential intervention of Ciprian Tatarusanu prevented the Paraguayan from opening the scoring (36′ .

Milan is getting better

After the break Milan improved. He started putting the plays together and had two good scoring chances in a row. In the first Vanja Milinkovic-Savic blocked Rafael Leao’s attempt after Olivier Giroud let it go with an advanced pass (54′).

Two minutes later, the Serbian goalkeeper appeared again, frustrated by a Giroud who received space from Brahim Díaz. Torino were also happy with two shots but without much danger.

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Finally the Theo Hernández-Giroud connection unraveled in the game. The full-back put in a perfect cross and the striker, about to renew his contract at the age of 36, hit an excellent header (61′). Last shot to celebrate his seventh league goal.

Theo Hernández himself forgave 2-0 in an unusual position of 9 by sending, just in front of the goal, a good delivery outside of Pierre Kalulu (76′).

Errors that often pay off in football, but this time Milan didn’t need it against a punchless opponent to start seeing light in the dark tunnel they entered after the string of disasters that left them no scudetto, Coppa and Supercup.

Milan

10

Turin

Milan: Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Kjaer (Gabbia, 71′), Thiaw; Saelemaekers (Calabria, 89′), Krunic, Tonali (Pobega, 89′), Theo Hernández; Brahim Díaz (De Ketelaere, 79′), Rafael Leão; Giroud (Origi, 89′)

Turin: Vanja Milinkovic-Savic; Djidji (Gravillon, 80′), Schuurs, Buongiorno (Vojvoda, 57′); Singo, Adopo (Karamoh, 69′), Gineitis (Linetty, 46′), Ricardo Rodriguez; Miranchuk, Vlasic (Radonjic, 80′); sanabria

Goal: 1-0 Giroud (62′)

Referee: Giovanni Ayroldi. Yellow cards to Gineitis (25′), Kjaer (32′), Buongiorno (49′), Schuurs (68′), Radonjic (82′)

Spectators: 68,268 at San Siro​

see the match sheet