Match Review: Torino vs AC Milan

The draw in Turin leaves the Rossoneri with a bitter aftertaste. Not only because of the positive start, in which Jack Bonaventura scored a brilliant volley (10'), but also for the way the match ended. Abate hitting the post at the last gasp (96'). Coach Gattuso's boys reacted well to the penalty missed by Belotti (3') and after finding the match opener dominated their opponents giving the impression they could score a second goal at any moment. Yet, the Granata played a good second half and made it difficult for the Red and Blacks to double their lead, especially the minutes after De Silvestri scored the equaliser following a corner kick (70’). Cutrone and André Silva came from the bench and managed to boost the team until the end creating plenty of trouble in the opponents’ area but at the end, it was not enough. With this draw, AC Milan (6th) reach 54 points in the table and remains 10 units away from the Serie A top four, but with 2 points more than Atalanta (7th). Now, the focus turns to next Saturday’s match at San Siro against Benevento.

THE MATCH REPORT:
Bonucci, Abate and Borini start in Gattuso’s 4-3-3 system at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin as the only changes to the line-up that drew against Napoli last Sunday. Two minutes into the clock and Kessie brings down Ansaldi inside the area: penalty. Belotti steps up and smashes his shot onto the crossbar! In the 9’, Kessie shoots from close range but Sirigu does well to deny him. The host can’t manage to clear the ball and Bonaventura, from the edge, sends his volley into the top corner: 0-1! The Granata react through Belotti in the 33’ but Donnarumma tips his header over the bar and, one minute later, Iago Falque misses a clear chance from close range. In the 39’, Kalinic meets Abate’s cross but fails to give proper direction to his header. In the second half, De Silvestriheaders in a corner and finds the equaliser in the 70’: 1-1. The Red and Blacks react through Cutrone but is denied by a fine save from Sirigu. In the 89’, Donnarumma makes an outstanding save to Ljajic’s sliding effort from close range. At the last gasp, Abate fires from the edge and hits the woodwork in the 96’! In the end, it’s all square in Turin: 1-1.

THE STATS

• AC Milan have drawn four Serie A games in a row in a single season for the first time since April 1994.
• The Rossoneri are unbeaten in their last 21 Serie A matches against Torino (11 wins and 10 draws).
• Each of the last five Serie A meetings between these two sides played in Turin have ended in a draw.
• The Red and Blacks have scored seven goals in the opening 10 minutes of play, the joint-most in this Serie A season along with Fiorentina.
• Jack Bonaventura scored his first goal against Torino in Serie A, in his 10th appearance against the Granata.
• Bonaventura had nine recoveries, the joint-most in this match.

TORINO 1-1 AC MILAN

TORINO (3-4-2-1): Sirigu; Burdisso, N'Koulou, Moretti; De Silvestri, Rincon (57’ Obi) (85’ Acquah), Baselli, Ansaldi; Ljajic, Iago Falque (64’ Edera); Belotti. Subs: Ichazo, Coppola, Molinaro, Bonifazi, Valdifiori, Acquah, Niang, Edera, Berenguer, Obi, Barreca.  Coach: Mazzarri.

AC MILAN (4-3-3): G. Donnarumma; Abate, Zapata, Bonucci, Rodriguez; Kessié, Biglia (67’ Locatelli), Bonaventura; Suso (78’ André Silva), Kalinic (74’ Cutrone), Borini. Subs: A. Donnarumma, Storari, Antonelli, Calabria, Gomez, Musacchio, Locatelli, Mauri, Montolivo, Calhanoglu, Cutrone, André Silva. Coach: Gattuso.

REFEREE: Fabio Maresca
GOALS: 10’ Bonaventura (M), 70’ De Silvestri (T)
BOOKED: 25’ and 90’+3’ De Silvestri (T), 42’ Rincon (T), 45’ Bonaventura (M), 71’ Baselli (T), 79’ Cutrone (M), 67’ Locatelli (M)
SENT OFF: De Silvestri 90’+3’ (T)