AC Milan has turned its season opener in Serie A into a win. In San Siro, the reigning national champion was too strong for Udinese, 4-2. Among the guests, Bram Nuytinck played a negative leading role in Ante Rebic’s goal. Theo Hernández had previously undone Rodrigo Becão’s opening goal, while Adam Masina and Brahim Díaz also scored. Atalanta Bergamo, with Marten de Roon, Teun Koopmeiners and Hans Hateboer in the base, won 0-2 at Sampdoria.
Milan had the worst possible start. Becão hit the target from a corner kick by ex-Milan player Gerard Deulofeu. Not much later, Milan got the opportunity to score the equalizer. After a questionable foul on Rafael Leão, who was nominated for the Ballon d’Or on Friday, Hernández shot from eleven meters. Less than four minutes later it was checkout again. Davide Calabria passed and because Nuytinck couldn’t turn fast enough, it was Rebic who took the 2-1 lead. Milan then seemed to go into halftime with the lead, but Masina thought otherwise. The Moroccan headed in beautifully after a cross from Roberto Pereyra: 2-2.
It’s going LOS in Milan! ?? Within 5 minutes Milan puts things in order and they take the lead through an Ante Rebic goal ????#ZiggoSport #SeriesA #MilanUdinese pic.twitter.com/0F9dI3scI7
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) August 13, 2022
While Masina was the celebrated man just before half-time, he made a mistake less than a minute after tea. A splitting cross from Hernández was not cleared by the defender, after which Brahim Díaz could easily shoot in from close range: 3-2. On a pass from Díaz, who continued well on the right, Rebic increased the margin to two in the 67th minute by simply tapping in. The Croat got a crowd change five minutes later; Olivier Giroud was his replacement. Leão was close to scoring his first goal of the evening moments later; his shot went over. Substitute Alexis Saelemaekers was just close to the fifth Milan goal, but his volley went over the goal. It therefore remained at 4-2.
Sampdoria – Atalanta 0-1
With all possible Dutch in the base at Atalanta, Sampdoria thought he would take the lead after fifteen minutes. Francesco Caputo scored with a low shot after a nice by the home team, but referee Federico Dionisi was called off by the VAR and decided that a foul had been committed in the run-up to the goal. Joakim Mæhle should have taken care of the 0-1 on Hateboer’s pass, but his effort hit the post from very close by. That the Dane killed that chance can be called a miracle. Moments later, it was hit for Atalanta. Mario Pasalic passed the ball nicely and Rafael Tolói made grateful use of his cross. Duván Zapata thought moments later to make it 0-2, but his hard effort did not have enough direction.
Joakim Mæhle is already trying for miss of the season! ??#ZiggoSport #SeriesA #SampdoriaAtalanta pic.twitter.com/mjOuTTAUkc
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) August 13, 2022
After the break, Sampdoria tried to force the equalizer, although it was difficult to dominate the game. Yet it came very close. More than twenty minutes before half time, Abdelhamid Sabiri shot beautifully from outside the box, but his effort hit the post. Old-timer Fabio Quagliarella entered the field fifteen minutes before the end and the 39-year-old striker was very close to the equalizer, but his effort hit the bar. Moments later, De Roon took a yellow card for a tackle, but did not see the lead be relinquished. Ademola Lookman finally decided the game in the sixth minute of stoppage time.