With a goal from Reijnders in the 43rd minute of the first half, Milan won 1-0 at the U-Power Stadium against a Monza team who played well and incomprehensibly saw another goal canceled out at 0-0 like in Bergamo.
Strong start for the red and whites who set the U-Power Stadium alight in the 7th minute. However, Dany Mota’s goal was disallowed due to a questionable contact between Bondo and Theo Hernandez, amid protests from Nesta’s team. Monza did not lose heart and continued to attack. In the 13th minute the Rossoneri barrier rejected Maldini’s free kick, but not Kyriakopoulos’ left-footed shot, which whizzed wide. Red and white domination at the U-Power Stadium: in the 16th minute Maldini’s right-footed shot comes out just fine after Pedro Pereira’s cross. Milan showed themselves for the first time in the 20th minute, when Okafor shot centrally from a good position: Turati blocked. Two minutes later Theo Hernandez sprints to the left and puts it in the middle, where Okafor is still unable to finish, disturbed by Bianco’s excellent recovery. The game is fun and lively. Monza became dangerous again in the 25th minute, when Maldini took aim and with his right foot from outside called Maignan to rebound for a corner. The visiting goalkeeper was also providential in the 28th minute, when he saved Pedro Pereira’s safe header.
Nesta’s team is having fun and is still very close to 1-0 with Maldini: the personal action of the number 14 is beautiful, unlucky in the final thrust which hits the post. Monza deserved the goal but instead Milan found it in the 43rd minute, with the header one step away from Reijnders’ goal, after Izzo’s save on Morata. In the second half, after a quick start, an opportunity arrives for each side within a few seconds. First Reijnders shoots from outside, finding the rebound from Turati, who is not fooled by Morata’s deflection. Then on a low cross from the left by Bianco, Dany Mota invents a pass for Djuric who . Leao enters Milan and immediately has a chance in the 64th minute, when he sends the ball wild. Nesta makes a double substitution in the 65th minute, bringing on Vignato and D’Ambrosio. Theo Hernandez tries a left-footed shot from distance in the 67th minute, but finds Turati’s reactive rebound.
Monza responds with Bondo’s attempt, high in the 72nd minute. Nesta resorts to another double substitution in the 78th minute, when Maric and Caprari are played. And in the 80th minute the latter goes very well to the left, then crosses to the far post where Vignato arrives for a great right-footed volley, just wide. An opportunity also for the other new arrival, Maric, who in the 82nd minute slides towards goal with his left foot, but Thiaw saves for a corner. The ending is full of emotions. In the 84th minute Leao goes off on the counterattack, but is hypnotized by Turati. Nesta also sends Valoti onto the field in the 87th minute. Monza tries everything and in the 92nd minute Maldini tries a great right-footed shot, without luck.
Milan wins 1-0, but Monza, author of an excellent performance, can complain about the disallowed goal.
The red and whites will return to the field on Sunday 10 November at 6.00 pm, again at the U-Power Stadium, against Lazio.
