La Salernitana brought Milan’s euphoria to a halt

Milan arrived euphoric after gaining access to the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Wednesday at the expense of Tottenham but played at the San Siro against a mediocre Salernitana (1-1) and did not take advantage of the chain setbacks of the teams against which it will fight. to return to the Champions League next season.

Milan is still fourth with 48 points and has not caught up with Inter, second with 50 and lost on Friday against Spezia (2-1), while they remain one behind Lazio (3rd with 49 after their 0-0 loss on Saturday at Bologna ). Roma, who were defeated on Sunday by Sassuolo (2-3), are fifth with 47. Only Napoli, the outstanding leader, beat Atalanta (6th) today (2-0).

It will be very difficult for Milan to create danger for a very closed Salernitana and they will have to be patient to have even a few chances.

Ibra applauds Giroud

Olivier Giroud warned after half an hour with a fantastic Chilean kick that just hit the crossbar. An acrobatic shot that Zlatan Ibrahimovic applauded on the bench.

But the improvement in attack was accompanied by mistakes by a defense that was exposed when Salernitana decided to appear on the attack. Ismael Bennacer’s miss almost led to a goal by Grigoris Kastanos (33′) and Malick Thiaw’s mistake on a long ball allowed Boulaye Dia to escape alone but goalkeeper Mike Maignan, life insurance for Milan, he takes the ball from him as his body leaves the area (43′).

psychological purpose

Stefano Pioli’s side saw the wolf’s ears and scored a psychological goal in the first half when Giroud headed a corner into the near post of the net. It was the eighth goal for the Frenchman.

However, the goal did not materialize in the second half. Rafael Leao, who has gone nine games without scoring (seven in Serie A and two in the Champions League), is still against the goal. After having a chance in the first half with an individual action that ended badly, the Portuguese also couldn’t find the goal after a good play by Bennacer (51′).

Dia tied with his ninth goal

On the other hand, Paulo Sousa’s Salernitana surprised a counter-attack led by Domagoj Bradaric on the left wing and Dia pushed his cross into the net alone before a marking error by a Thiaw whose performance did not reach his last extraordinary performances. 60′). It was the ninth league goal for the Senegalese striker, on loan from Villarreal.

Pioli managed a load of matches for his players and promptly withdrew Giroud, Brahim Díaz and Leao to bring on Ibrahimovic, Charles De Ketelaere and Divock Origi, but the 1-1 draw was unshakeable.

Ibra did not unbalance

VAR corrected the referee, who awarded a penalty after Bennacer fell in a fight with Bradaric, and only Origi, in a confused act, centered Memo Ochoa with a shot to his chest.

Ibra tried but the Salernitana defense was able to stop him and, after overcoming his long injury, he slotted home the goal that would make him, at 41, the oldest player to score in Serie A history.

Milan has a draw and a defeat (2-1 against Fiorentina) in the last two rounds of Serie A, while Salernitana (16th) remains seven points behind the relegation places thanks to its second straight draw .

MILAN

11

SALERNITANA

Milan: Magnan; Kalulu, Thiaw, Tomori; Saelemaekers (Florenzi, 77′), Bennacer (Tonali, 85′), Krunic, Theo Hernández; Brahim Díaz (De Ketelaere, 62′), Rafael Leão (Ibrahimovic, 62′); Giroud (Origi, 62′)
The
Salernitana: Ochoa; Gyömbér, Daniliuc, Lorenzo Pirola (Lovato, 68′); Mazzocchi (Junior Sambia, 83′), Bohinen (Crnigoj, 83′), Coulibaly, Bradaric; Kastanos (Piatek, 56′), Candreva (Bonazzoli, 68′); Sun
The
Goals: 1-0 Giroud (45′), 1-1 Dia (61′)

Referee: Federico La Penna. Yellow cards to Giroud (59′), Junior Sambia (85′), Coulibaly (89′), Tomori (94′), Dia (96′)

Spectators: 71,870 at San Siro

see the match sheet