Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan were denied all three points at Mapei Stadium on Sunday, held to a 1-1 draw by Sassuolo that nonetheless keeps their unbeaten start to the Serie A season intact, according to TSN. Adrien Rabiot gave Milan the lead in the 63rd minute with a powerful strike, but substitute Cas Odenthal, a defender, leveled just five minutes later to earn the hosts a share of the spoils. Milan controlled the ball and created the better chances on paper, but Sassuolo’s resilience and a sharp goalkeeping display from Muric ensured the points were split.
Key Moments
- 20′, Matteo Gabbia was stretchered off with what appeared to be an injury, bringing K. De Winter on in his place in an early disruption to Milan’s defensive shape.
- 26′, Sassuolo also lost a defender early, with Leysen replaced by Odenthal after picking up what appeared to be an injury.
- 45′, Estupinan, already booked in the 41st minute, was taken off at halftime to avoid the risk of a red card, with Modric coming on to add creative thrust in midfield.
- 63′, Rabiot broke the deadlock with a powerful strike, assisted by Modric, to give Milan a lead that looked like it could hold.
- 68′, Odenthal, the Sassuolo substitute defender who had come on in the first half, headed or converted to level at 1-1, canceling out Milan’s lead and silencing Amorim’s side.
Tactical Breakdown
Milan dominated the ball in their 4-4-1-1 setup, finishing with 59% possession and 628 passes to Sassuolo’s 442. Amorim’s side attempted 11 shots, ten of them from inside the box, and registered an xG of 1.23, but a combination of Muric’s five saves and poor finishing from Gonçalo Ramos meant a single goal was all they had to show for their attacking work.
The introduction of Modric at halftime for the double-booked Estupinan proved the sharpest tactical move of the afternoon. Modric provided the assist for Rabiot’s opener within 18 minutes of coming on, and his presence unlocked a midfield that had been largely static in the first 45. But Sassuolo responded by throwing on Bowie and Thorstvedt at the hour mark, giving the hosts more dynamism in transition and stretching Milan’s backline.
Sassuolo’s equalizer came from an unexpected source: Odenthal, the substitute center-back who had entered in the 26th minute. His goal, five minutes after Rabiot had given Milan the lead, exposed a vulnerability in Milan’s set-piece and second-ball defending. For a team that has conceded four goals in six league matches, the inability to hold a lead against a mid-table side will concern Amorim heading into the international break.
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Verdict
The draw leaves AC Milan fifth in Serie A with 11 points from six matches, still unbeaten but with two draws in their last four outings raising questions about their ability to convert possession into wins. Sassuolo, sitting tenth on seven points, take real heart from the result, showing the kind of resilience Amorim will have to account for if Milan want to push into the Champions League places in the months ahead.