With a brilliant brace from Brahim Diaz, followed by Divock Origi’s first club goal and Rafael Leao, Milan defeated Monza easily. However, Filippo Ranocchia scored an outstanding free kick as a consolation.
Prior to their Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb, the Rossoneri rotated their lineup, resting injured players Mike Maignan, Davide Calabria, Alexis Saelemaekers, Alessandro Florenzi, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic while playing without Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao.
Under coach Raffaele Palladino, Monza, which is run by former Milan executives Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani, had won 4 of their 5 competitive games. Just days after eliminating Udinese from the Coppa Italia, Armando Izzo and suspended Nicol Rovella did not travel.
The first goal was unexpectedly created by Brahim Diaz, who controlled a Ciprian Tatarusanu clearance with a great first touch in the centre circle before rushing at the Monza defence and prodding in from eight yards while being pressured by Antov.
Tatarusanu made two difficult saves by deflecting a Stefano Sensi rocket out from under the bar and parrying a Carlos Augusto free-diving header from nine yards after Origi tested Michele Di Gregorio and hit the side-netting.
With a second Brahim Diaz goal just before the break, Milan increased their advantage. He received a pass from Origi down the right, turned Luca Caldirola, and slammed a right-footed angled drive into the bottom right corner.
An inspired Diaz was the architect of both of Milan’s goals against their rivals from nearby Monza after a sluggish start. Milan had undergone significant change. The Rossoneri are in command at the break, leaving their opponents with a mountain to climb in the second period thanks to his outstanding solo effort and another set up by backup striker Origi. Right now, Pioli’s team has a chance to defeat newly promoted clubs at home for the seventh time in a row without giving up a goal.
In the 52nd minute, Brahim Diaz was forced to leave the game with what appeared to be a tight hamstring. Charles De Ketelaere, who had recently recovered from a muscle issue of his own, took Brahim Diaz’s place.
Origi once more came close to netting his 1st goal for the Rossoneri when Bennacer found him with a through ball after Milan regained possession, but the two center-backs crowded him out. Milan kept gaining possession of the ball far up the field.
Then, Matteo Gabbia replaced Kjaer and Rafael Leao replaced Rebic in a double substitution. Moments later, Origi set up Messias on the right side for an assist, but the Brazilian somehow skewed his shot into the second tier as he pounced on the opportunity.
Origi finally scored for Milan with a stunning goal in the 65th minute after countless chances. After receiving the pass from Messias, he received the ball on the edge of the box, and De Ketelaere’s move opened up space for him to fire a rocket of a shot that went into the near post’s top right corner.
Filippo Ranocchia chose to strike with a free-kick from more than 25 yards out, appearing to surprise Tatarusanu, who could only scramble over it and tip the ball into the inside netting. This gave Monza a lifeline in spectacular fashion.
Tatarusanu did pull off a good save at his near post when Milan failed to deal with a set piece. Mari then passed to Carboni at the far side of the box, who fired a hard shot that was expertly parried by Tatarusanu.
Milan ended the game in the final 10 minutes as the opposition attempted to turn the screw. Rafael Leao sat the goalkeeper down with a cool and collected finish after Theo Hernandez recovered possession of the ball midway inside Monza’s half.
When De Ketelaere was completely unmarked inside the area and had a chance to score his first goal, it should have been the cherry on top. However, the ball took a bounce that he didn’t read, and he ended up slicing at nothing.
Despite not being in complete control of the situation, a depleted Milan showed the clinical edge that made them champions in May by defeating tenacious Monza at San Siro. A brilliant first-half double by Diaz—who later left the game limping—was followed by two more goals after the break, while the visitors at least received some credit for their improved second-half play when Ranocchia scored with an ambitious free-kick. By no means a classic, but a win brings the Rossoneri to within a single point of Napoli, who are currently leading Serie A.
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