Suso’s first Serie A goals since February helped AC Milan sink Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium on Sunday evening, as the Rossoneri strolled to a comfortable 4-1 win.
Gennaro Gattuso’s side never even really needed to be at their best, or anywhere near it, and Roberto De Zerbi will be disappointed with his side’s performance.
Sassuolo actually started the game brightly and looked to get at Milan. Federico Di Francesco sent out warning signals early as he got to the byline before driving a low cross into the six-yard box only to see it fly out the other side.
Ignazio Abate then had the game’s first purposeful chance as he, similarly to Di Francesco, drove at the end line before smashing a shot at goal that bounced off the crossbar on its way.
Milan then dominated the ball but didn’t create all that much. Franck Kessie found himself in and thought he had found the net with a delightful dink of fellow ex-Atalanta man Andrea Consigli, only for his effort to be cleared off the line by a recovering defender.
It should have been 1-0 to the Neroverdi on the half-hour mark. Di Francesco was in on goal, but chose to drive his effort and Gianluigi Donnarumma was able to save with his legs.
Milan then had Abate and Donnarumma to thank for keeping Sassuolo out. A ball bounced back towards goal off a Rossoneri player set Kevin-Prince Boateng through on the right. He could have shot, but the angle was always closing so instead played a sublimed pass into the path of the oncoming Di Francesco who looked set to have a tap-in, but a last-ditch challenge from Abate and Donnarumma turned the ball behind.
Kessie got his goal before the break. Collecting the ball in his own half he drove forward unchallenged he had the space of the Mapei Stadium to run into and passing options either side with more reinforcements arriving from behind. As he got to the box his mind was made up for him as no Neroverdi defender stepped out, and he slotted a left-footed strike into Consigli’s left-hand corner.
Five minutes is all Milan leaded to find the net again, and this time it was a stunning strike from Suso. Cutting in from the right, the Spaniard unleashed a sublime effort that curled into the far top corner, giving Consigli no chance.
Samu Castillejo made it three soon after with another attempt from the top drawer. This time it was a more powerful and driven effort that flew from the left across into the other side of Consigli’s net, but he was equally helpless on that occasion.
Filip Djuricic pulled one back for the hosts midway through the second half. As the ball was dragged back to him, he shuffled his feet well and shifted the ball onto his right foot before slotting in at Donnarumma’s near post.
It became four with the game’s final kick. Suso drilled a freekick into the wall and followed up by burying the rebound. VAR was consulted and with the same blow of the whistle to confirm the goal, the official ended the match.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com