AC Milan suffer second straight defeat in shock 3-1 home loss to Sassuolo

AC Milan suffer second straight defeat in shock 3-1 home loss to Sassuolo, handing table-toppers Napoli the chance to move three points clear in Serie A

  • AC Milan were stunned by a 3-1 defeat at home to mid-table Sassuolo on Sunday 
  • Alessio Romagnoli scored first for Milan before Gianluca Scamarra equalised
  • Simon Kjaer then netted own goal before Domenico Berardi added a third 


AC Milan slipped to their second successive Serie A defeat when Sassuolo stunned their opponents in the San Siro after coming from behind to earn a 3-1 victory on Sunday.

The hosts raced into an early lead after skipper Alessio Romagnoli headed home from a corner in the 21st minute, and Milan looked on course to get back to winning ways in the league following last weekend’s loss at Fiorentina.

However, Sassuolo, who beat Juventus away from home last month, turned the match on its head, with Gianluca Scamacca’s stunning strike and Simon Kjaer’s unfortunate own goal giving them a 2-1 lead inside 33 minutes.

AC Milan suffered their second straight Serie A defeat after losing 3-1 at home to Sassuolo

AC Milan got the scoring underway thanks to a strong header from Alessio Romagnoli (right)

AC Milan got the scoring underway thanks to a strong header from Alessio Romagnoli (right)

Sassuolo equalised just three minutes later thanks to Gianluca Scamacca's (left) strike

Sassuolo equalised just three minutes later thanks to Gianluca Scamacca’s (left) strike

MATCH FACTS

AC Milan 4-2-3-1: Maignan; Florenzi (Pellegri 68), Kjaer, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Bakayoko (Kessie 46), Bennacer (Tonali 61); Saelemaekers (Kalulu 80), Diaz (Messias 46), Leao; Ibrahimovic

Subs not used: Tatarusanu, Ballo-Toure, Conti, Maldini, Krunic, Gabbia, Mirante

Bookings: Kjaer, Hernandez, Bennacer, Tonali

Sent off: Romagnoli 

Goals: Romagnoli 21, Kjaer (OG) 33

Sassuolo 4-3-3: Consigli; Kyriakopoulos, Ferarri, Ayhan, Muldur; Henrique (Toljan 80), Lopez, Frattesi (Harroui 80); Raspadori (Chiriches 90), Scamacca (Defrel 59), Berardi (Traore 80)

Subs not used: Magnanelli, Rogerio, Peluso, Satalino, Pegolo,  

Bookings: Lopez, Raspadori

Goals: Scamarra 24, Berardi 66

Even with veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the line, Milan struggled to issue a response, as Domenico Berardi made sure of a thoroughly deserved victory for Sassuolo with a superb solo goal in the 66th minute.

Romagnoli’s red card in the 77th minute effectively ended Milan’s hopes of getting anything from the match. They remain second in the standings, level on 32 points with leaders Napoli, who play Lazio later on Sunday.

Sassuolo’s first win in four league games sees them climb to 12th on 18 points.

Milan came into the contest on the back of the defeat in Florence last weekend â- their first of the season in Serie A.

But, having earned a crucial Champions League victory in midweek over Atletico Madrid, they looked in better form as Romagnoli’s first goal of the season gave them a deserved lead.

Then Scamacca’s bolt from the blue, an arrowing strike from 25 metres that flew into the top corner in the 24th minute, stunned the hosts, who were behind before they knew it.

Scamacca had a big hand in the visitors’ second goal, too, as it was his drilled attempt that was saved by returning Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, but the ball came back off Kjaer and into his own net.

After the break, Ibrahimovic unleashed a fierce strike from distance that fizzed just wide, but otherwise Sassuolo were containing their opponents with ease.

The goal that sealed the victory was clinical in its execution, as Italy forward Berardi twisted and turned before drilling past Maignan to spark wild scenes of celebration.  

A shock own goal from defender Simon Kjaer (left) saw AC Milan go behind after 33 minutes

A shock own goal from defender Simon Kjaer (left) saw AC Milan go behind after 33 minutes

Sassuolo sealed the victory in style as Italy striker Domenico Berardi (right) made it 3-1

Sassuolo sealed the victory in style as Italy striker Domenico Berardi (right) made it 3-1

Things went from bad to worse for AC Milan as goal-scorer Romagnoli was sent off late on

Things went from bad to worse for AC Milan as goal-scorer Romagnoli was sent off late on

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