Milan, January 29 (BNA): Milan were humbled 5-2 at home to lowly Sassuolo in Serie A today, Sunday, as they suffered a fourth defeat in five matches to intensify the pressure on coach Stefano Pioli.
Reuters reported that tensions erupted throughout the match with growing frustration, as 11 yellow cards appeared, seven of which were for Milan players and four for visitors.
The Italian champions are fourth in the standings with 38 points, one ahead of Lazio and Roma, who play later on Sunday. Sassuolo ranks sixteenth.
“I’m disappointed, but we didn’t manage to be disappointed,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.
“Recent performances show that we are struggling, and that should prompt me to understand which situations need improvement and approach them differently.
“Our scudetto this season will guarantee qualification to the Champions League, and that’s the goal.”
Olivier Giroud thought he had given Milan the lead in the eighth minute, but his celebrations were cut short after the VAR offside.
Sassuolo’s first goal against the run of play came after 19 minutes when Domenico Berardi crossed into the penalty area and an unmarked Grégoire Defrel shot inside the penalty area.
Davide Frattisi doubled the lead two minutes later when he fired a low shot into the net.
Giroud narrowed the difference to Milan in the 24th minute, heading a David Calabria cross into the top corner, but Berardi restored Sassuolo’s lead with two goals quickly.
Ante Rebic had a good chance to score in first-half stoppage time, but his shot was saved by Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.
Milan’s problems continued in the second half when Armand Llorente scored a penalty two minutes into the second half, and Matheus Henrique added the fifth minute before the end.
Milan scored its second goal for offside from the video assistant referee in the 54th minute, when a free kick found Rebic inside the penalty area and fired it into the net.
Divock Origi scored Milan’s second goal with a good shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 81st minute.
Milan will face Inter in the Milan derby on February 5th.
Pioli said, “We will take the best decisions to overcome this moment. Next week there is the derby match. We want to respond and get out of this negative situation.”
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