The match
Milan’s journey in the Champions League begins with a draw. The Rossoneri created many opportunities against Newcastle, but Pioli’s team wasted them all. Applause for the great ex of the evening, Sandro Tonali. READ the match report HERE
Maignan: 6
Talent and fragility. Out with a muscle injury, yet another.
Theo Hernandez: 6
Tires not always shiny
Tomori: 7
Here it is again. And thank goodness. He gets his place back, after the unfortunate disqualification that Inter cost him and which certainly didn’t help Milan. With him it’s a different story
Thiaw: 6
He is one of the greats expected, after the nightmare night of the derby, where he was the worst. Raise your head
Calabria: 5.5
No guarding, this time. If in the derby he lost the radar going around the pitch, now the assignments are different: old-fashioned full-back, with doubling duties. However, he was booked for an avoidable protest: in order not to take any risks, Pioli left him in the locker room at half-time
Pobega: 6
What an opportunity. Pioli promoted him to the starting position in place of Reijnders and he repaid with a concentrated and substantial performance. Promoted
Krunic: 5.5
He limits himself to being a pure midfielder: his playmaking is slow and predictable, while he would have had the opportunity to be more enterprising given the lack of pressing from his opponents. More ideas and speed were needed
Loftus-Cheek: 6
Runs, steps, kicks. It makes her presence felt. Out with a muscle injury with about twenty minutes to go
Leao: 4.5
His bad night is summed up by that senseless back-heel strike two steps from goal, after discarding half of Newcastle. Just one question: why, son?
Giroud: 5.5
Impeccable commitment, but in front of the goal it’s not the usual sentence: someone with his killer instinct usually doesn’t misfire there
Chukwueze: 5.5
Lots of strength, little control. He shoots everywhere, vertically and horizontally, he has creativity and wickedness, but squeeze and squeeze he accomplishes little. He still has to work
Florenzi: 6.5
Sgasa on the right flank in the second half, at times showing the English defense witches
Pulisic: 5.5
From the way he enters, it is clear why Pili had left him out. He misses the inspiration of the first few days. Captain America has returned from the national team break without powers
Reijnders: 6
More geometric than Pobega, however he is unable to raise the level of the midfield
Musah: 6
Good impact: he has a race with character. It will come in handy
Door: 6.5
Only one save, but a decisive one: he saves the equalizer in the final
Pegs: 6
His Milan creates a lot, shoots 25 times, deserves the victory, but is betrayed by his attackers. Result: a missed opportunity, there’s little to go around, with the risk that the group will now be all a chase. From what we saw, Newcastle could and should have been beaten. Positive note: after the shock of the derby, the technical and mental reaction was there.
