Olivier Giroud scored a brace in a 2-1 win over Panathinaikos on Saturday and seems more and more central in the Milan project.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic absent due to a knee injury, the Frenchman, who arrived from Chelsea this summer, has impressed during pre-season.
Giroud scored twice in the first half and gave the Rossoneri a nice cushion at the break in Trieste, but Panathinaikos tried to fight back in the second.
Fotis Ioannidis scored for the Greek side, but Milan secured another positive result ahead of the first Serie A game against Sampdoria.
Giroud could make his debut in the away game against the Blucerchiati on August 23, when the Diavolo start Serie A 2021-22 in Genoa.
Pioli tried a 4-4-2 formation where Giroud was the target man next to Ante Rebic in attack, with Rade Krunic and Sandro Tonali in the middle.
Ismael Bennacer was introduced after 61 minutes, with Davide Calabria as the captain in the first half, as Alessio Romagnoli started on the bench.
Image credit: @ACMilan
🎥 Relive our success in #MilanPanathinaikos and @OlivierGiroud‘s brace ✌️
🎥 Rivivi il successo a Trieste grazie alla doppietta di Giroud ✌️#SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/Jo47AF21sW
— AC Milan (@acmilan) August 14, 2021
Well done, lads 👏
Ready for a new season 🔴⚫Bravi ragazzi 👏
Pronti per una nuova stagione 🔴⚫#MilanPanathinaikos #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/6zPuKZlwbk— AC Milan (@acmilan) August 14, 2021
Milan need a quality playmaker and right winger, otherwise it’s gonna be a tough season.