Tijjani Reijnders returned from suspension to give Milan a much-needed victory in Monza, despite Rafael Leao being dropped yet again, but the hosts were frustrated by a disallowed goal.
The Rossoneri were in crisis after losing two of their last three Serie A games to Fiorentina and Napoli, but coach Paulo Fonseca took a stand by dropping Rafael Leao to the bench for the third round in a row. Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders returned from suspension, while Christian Pulisic shook off flu symptoms, but Matteo Gabbia, Luka Jovic, Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi were still injured. Monza had just one victory all season, missing Stefano Sensi, Samuele Birindelli, Andrea Petagna and Alessio Cragno, with Matteo Pessina only fit for the bench.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Monza had the ball in the net early on with Milan Djuric nodding down the Pedro Pereira cross for Dany Mota Carvalho’s half-volley, but the referee disallowed it for an earlier Bondo push on Theo Hernandez. It was a decision made by the official, but if he had waved play on, it is unlikely VAR would’ve changed that verdict.
They really should’ve scored on 15 minutes, only for Daniel Maldini to drill wide relatively undisturbed on the Pedro Pereira pull-back from the by-line.
At the other end, Noah Okafor’s weak finish wasted an opportunity when Pablo Mari gave the ball away building out from the back.
Maldini tested Mike Maignan from the edge of the area, but the goalkeeper had to make a sensational one-handed reaction save on Pedro Pereira’s header from the Giorgos Kyriakopoulos cross. Maldini also clipped the inside of the far post with an angled drive, though it wouldn’t have counted due to Djuric’s offside position in the build-up.
Instead, it was Milan who took the lead on the counter when Pulisic’s cross from the right found an Alvaro Morata header charged down by Armando Izzo, though only as far as Reijnders to nod in the rebound.
Another Pulisic cross only grazed the head of Morata after the restart and on the resulting corner Reijnders tested Stefano Turati, while Rafael Leao was unleashed for the final 27 minutes and immediately scuffed wide after combining with Reijnders.
Theo Hernandez also stung Turati’s gloves with a ferocious solo effort at the near stick, then had to be decisive at the other end with a crucial defensive header to prevent Danilo D’Ambrosio nodding in the Kyriakopoulos cross at the back post.
Samuele Vignato couldn’t keep his volley on target and Morata nodded a Theo Hernandez free kick over the bar, but Rafael Leao rode three tackles to burst into the box only to scuff the finish straight at Turati, then blasted into the sky after interrupting a Yunus Musah assist that would’ve better served Morata.
Monza 0-1 Milan
Reijnders 43 (Mi)
Player statistic
| 43' |  |
Tijjani Reijnders |
| 47' |  |
Álvaro Morata | ||
| Milan Djuric | |
52' | ||
| Warren Bondo | |
83' |
Match statistic
