AC Milan 1-0 Sassuolo - Christian Pulisic pounces to net winner for AC Milan against Sassuolo in Serie A clash

A Christian Pulisic goal mid-way through the second half gave AC Milan a much-needed win at home to lift the growing pressure on manager Stefano Pioli.

A makeshift Milan side hampered by injury put in an uninspiring performance against struggling Sassuolo. There were few opportunities for either side in what was a cagey first half.

Milan did manage to put the ball in the net twice in the form of Ismael Bennacer and Rafael Leao but both goals were quickly, and correctly, ruled out for offside.

It was actually Mike Maignan who was tested more in the first half, however many of Sassuolo’s chances came from distance and were never genuine goal threats.

A similar pattern continued into the second half as Milan controlled the game but played at a slow and sluggish pace. The breakthrough was apt for a game of this quality as a deflected Bennacer pass sat nicely for Pulisic, who applied a deft chip over a scrambling Andrea Consigli.

Milan managed to see the game out against a Sassuolo side who never really threatened. The result will be gratefully received by Pioli, but the performance will only leave more asking if he is the right man to lead Milan through 2024.

Meanwhile, another loss for Sassuolo leaves them just two points off the relegation zone.

Going into the game there had been plenty of chatter around the future of Milan boss Stefano Pioli. The manager may have presided over a famous Scudetto in 2022 but after a disappointing last season and an inconsistent first half of this campaign some are questioning if he is still the man to lead Milan forward.

A win against struggling Sassuolo will have been much welcomed by Pioli but a sluggish and uninspiring performance will only fuel his doubters who believe that with a new year on the horizon there should be a new manager in the Milan dugout as they trail city rivals and league leaders Inter Milan by nine points.

In a game of such quality there was little to separate the higher performing players. However, the left-back renowned for his flair and attacking ability performed well in an unfamiliar position. Playing centre-back again due to Milan’s injury woes, the defender looked assured and confident and gave Milan a real presence at the back. He even managed to fit in a few daring runs forward despite being in a more restrictive position.

AC Milan: Maignan 7, Calabria 6, Kjaer 6, Hernandez 7, Florenzi 6, Loftus-Cheek 5, Bennacer 6, Reijnders 5, Pulisic 7, Leao 6, Giroud 4. Subs: Adli 6, Jovic 4, Zeroli 5, Chukwueze 5, Simic 5.

Sassuolo: Consigli 6, Toljan 7, Erlic 6, Ferrari 5, Pedersen 5, Henrique 4, Thorstvedt 5, Lauriente 6, Bajrami 6, Beradi 7, Pinamoti 6. Subs: Tressoldi 5, Volpato 6, Castillejo 5, Mulattieri 5, Cedie 5.

GOAL! AC MILAN 1-0 SASSUOLO (PULISIC) Bennacer plays a defence-splitting pass which Ferrari attempts to intercept. It deflects and drops nicely to Pulisic in the box and he cutely dinks the ball over an oncoming Consigli.

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