Mike Maignan parried the Domenico Berardi penalty and Milan only managed a point away to Sassuolo, with Berardi and Alessandro Florenzi sustaining injuries.
The Rossoneri rotated the squad ahead of the Derby della Madonnina this weekend, with Ante Rebic and Divock Origi joining Rade Krunic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the treatment table. Simon Kjaer got his first start nine months after the ACL injury. The visitors had Hamed Junior Traore and Mert Muldur as long-term absentees.
It was the first return to the Mapei Stadium since Milan celebrated their Scudetto victory here in May.
Tommaso Pobega was making his first start for the Rossoneri and forced a save from Andrea Consigli, then Rafael Leao’s curler was just wide of the far top corner from outside the area.
However, Sassuolo were awarded a penalty when Kyriakopoulos was sandwiched between Alexis Saelemaekers and Alessandro Florenzi. Domenico Berardi stepped up and saw the spot-kick saved by Mike Maignan’s trailing hand.
Olivier Giroud wasted a counter-attack and Davide Frattesi’s header was straight at Maignan. On 50 minutes Theo Hernandez barged Berardi over from behind just outside the box and was very lucky to see the offside flag was up. Berardi wasn’t lucky at all and was carried off the pitch with what appeared to be a thigh strain.
Rafael Leao scuffed his finish when sent through by Junior Messias, then Yacine Adli was introduced on the right side and Theo Hernandez had to time his run perfectly to stop Agustin Alvarez going clear.
Alessandro Florenzi suddenly pulled up with what could be a hamstring strain and as Milan had completed their changes, they were down to 10 men for seven minutes of stoppages.
Leao’s scuffed effort on a Charles De Ketelaere assist was straight at Consigli.
Sassuolo 0-0 Milan
Saved penalty: Berardi 22 (S)
I ve said before, fluke campionato last year!