Milan get back to winning ways as Saelemaeker's first-half counter-attacking goal means they leave Reggio Emilia with all three points. The Rossoneri never really looked like losing the lead after they gained it after just six seconds. Sassuolo tried hard throughout and eventually pulled a goal back through Berardi but didn't test Donnarumma enough.
Milan's victory leaves them top of Serie A, one point ahead of Inter. Sassuolo stay sixth. The hosts are going through a tricky spell but have enough about them to cause the biggest teams problems.
Sassuolo now travel to Sampdoria, while Milan prepare to host Lazio next week to see if they'll celebrate Christmas top of Serie A. On this evidence, Pioli's team have a chance of staying there even without Ibrahimovic. That's all for now. Goodbye!
Cronaca
Formazioni
Statistiche
90'+7'
FULL-TIME: SASSUOLO 1-2 AC MILAN17:00
90'+5'
Consigli punts the free-kick forward from Sassuolo's half with every other Sassuolo player hovering around Milan's box. Milan manage to half-clear it and Ferrari fouls Romagnoli as the ball comes back in. Donnarumma takes the goal-kick and that's that!17:00
90'+3'
Kessie wisely keeps the ball for Milan near Sassuolo's corner flag. Sassuolo eventually win it back and Berardi goes down clutching his face from a challenge with Maldini. This free-kick will surely be their last chance.16:56
90'+2'
Hauge fires wide from the left of the box when the ball falls to him. Milan look to have done just enough to hold Sassuolo at bay in the second half but they're not out of the woods yet.16:55
90'+1'
Berardi whips the free-kick towards the far post where Obiang's header is blocked by Hernandez. Hernandez takes some time to get up after a painful clash of heads with the Sassuolo man. 16:53
90'
Looking again at Berardi's goal, it glanced off the face of Hauge with that deflection taking it past Donnarumma. Bourabia wins a free-kick down the right. The officials indicate a minimum of three minutes of added time.16:52
89'
GOAL! SASSUOLO 1-2 AC MILAN! Hello! Is a late comeback on the cards? Sassuolo have a free-kick inside the D from Romagnoli's foul. Berardi steps up and curls it confidently around Milan's wall into the bottom right corner.
Boga powers towards Milan's box and has his run brought to an abrupt halt by Romagnoli. Milan's captain takes the yellow card for his team.16:49
86'
Calhanoglu also gets a break for the last few minutes. Maldini is on for him. Milan are almost there.21:22
86'
Traore leaves the pitch. The Equatoguinean midfielder Obiang, formerly of Sampdoria and West Ham, replaces him.16:47
85'
Leao goes down from a challenge from Traore, winning Milan a free-kick. It looks like that will be Traore's last act of the game.16:46
83'
Sassuolo continue to huff and puff. Traore wriggles free in the box and can't decide whether to cross or shoot, firing over from a tight angle. De Zerbi holds his head in his hands. He knows that was a chance.16:45
81'
Sassuolo put together some slick play through the middle but Traore can't control Caputo's layoff. Milan carry the ball forward and take the chance to keep possession. Marlon heads away a pass intended for Hauge.16:43
79'
Milan substitution. One of their goalscorers Saelemaekers goes off. Castillejo is the man to replace him.16:41
77'
Sassuolo have definitely been better in this second half but Milan's defending has been top drawer. Milan are still threatening too as Consigli tips aside Hauge's effort from outside the box.16:40
75'
Donnarumma makes a great save to keep Bourabia out! Sassuolo's Moroccan midfielder takes aim for the bottom left corner from outside the box. Milan's goalkeeper dives across to save and smother it at the second attempt.16:38
73'
Kyriakopoulos' cross from the left finds the head of Berardi. Romagnoli does well to take the sting out of it. It's a Sassuolo corner. Again nothing comes of it.16:36
72'
Chance for Milan! Saelemaekers misses the chance to seal the victory for the visitors, leaning back to fire over after Leao's great strength won the ball by the byline and allowed him to get a shot away from close range, forcing Consigli to save.16:35
71'
Calabria is booked for a rough tackle on Boga. Sassuolo's free-kick isn't that great. Milan have been sturdy at defending set-pieces all game.16:33
70'
Sassuolo go on their first attack for a while and Caputo shoots wide from outside the box. The hosts then lose possession in a scramble in Milan's D. Milan counter like old times - that is, the first half - but Hernandez's pass ends up with Consigli.16:34
68'
Calhanoglu's corner goes out for another. Berardi clears it at the near post. The Turkish midfielder picks up the pieces and races back towards the box but the ball bounces off him and out for a Sassuolo goal-kick.16:29
67'
Again Calhanoglu's delivery is poor. Hauge looks to free Kessie in the box but the move ends in a Milan throw. Hernandez's whipped cross is deflected out for a corner. This is a decent spell for Milan.16:28
66'
Calhanoglu curls an inswinging cross into a crowd of bodies but Sassuolo see it away. Milan win a second free-kick a few yards further from goal on the same side.16:27
65'
Berardi is next to receive a yellow card for tripping Leao to the left of the box.16:26
63'
Sassuolo win a corner as Bourabia's shot from the centre of the box is blocked by Romagnoli. Milan's captain has been very solid. Sassuolo don't create much from it.16:25
61'
Sassuolo substitution. Toljan trots off. The Turkish right-back Muldur comes on.16:23
61'
Kessie is booked for a late challenge on Bourabia. Kessie protests his innocence - Bourabia made the most of it - but the referee is unmoved.16:22
59'
Sassuolo get another shot on goal. Berardi lets rip from 30 yards out and the shot whizzes over the crossbar.16:21
57'
Milan also make a change. The quiet Diaz is replaced by Hauge. Calhanoglu moves to the centre behind Leao.16:19
57'
Sassuolo make another substitution. Boga is on for Duricic.16:18
55'
Traore goes down in Milan's box as Romagnoli wafts a leg towards the ball. The referee isn't convinced it's a penalty and play continues. Traore doesn't really appeal either to be fair.16:17
53'
Milan are finding it difficult to get out of their own half at present. Sassuolo are taking better care of the ball than they did earlier.16:15
51'
Sassuolo work the ball through the middle and Traore bundles over Calabria to fire a low shot straight at Donnarumma. It's not the cleanest chance on goal but it's a shot on target for the hosts.16:14
49'
Sassuolo are certainly playing with greater pace since the restart. They had a lot of possession in the first half but weren't doing much with it. 16:11
47'
Sassuolo start the half on the front foot as Toljan's cross from the right gets blocked.16:08
46'
Milan also take the opportunity to make a change. Krunic is on for Tonali who had treatment on the sideline in the first half.16:08
46'
The second half gets going then. How will these substitutions affect things?16:08
46'
Rogerio also gets replaced at left-back for Sassuolo. Kiriakopoulos is on for him.16:07
46'
Sassuolo make two changes at half-time. Caputo comes on for the anonymous Defrel.16:06
If Sassuolo are going to score here it's probably going to pass through Berardi. Berardi has been central for Sassuolo so far and has scored eight goals against Milan in the past, more than any other current player. Can Sassuolo create some clearer opportunities for him?15:58
Milan are doing a professional job so far. The visitors have a two-goal lead thanks to Leao's record-breaking early goal and Saelemaeker's finish after great work from Hernandez on the counter-attack. Sassuolo are creating chances though. The next goal - as another seems likely - will be crucial.15:54
45'+3'
HALF-TIME: SASSUOLO 0-2 AC MILAN15:51
45'+3'
Djuricic's effort from range ricochets off Kalulu and out for another Sassuolo corner. It doesn't result in anything for the hosts.15:50
45'+2'
Sassuolo are getting more chances now. They will not want half-time at the moment. Ferrari lashes a shot towards the top left corner from inside the box that is well caught by Donnarumma.15:50
45'
There'll be three minutes added onto the end of this first half. Calhanoglu spots Leao's run off the ball to his left and finds the Portuguese striker. It looks like Leao should score but his effort bounces well wide of the right-hand post.16:01
43'
Milan get a free-kick as Hernandez is crudely barged over. The visitors have managed these spells of Sassuolo pressure well.15:46
41'
Sassuolo continue to try to unpick this stubborn Milan defence. Berardi floats in a cross for Traore whose shot from the left of the six-yard box almost tests Donnarumma at his near post. It goes just wide though.15:45
39'
Traore unleashes a rocket from outside the box. It's not far from whistling into the top right corner but fizzes narrowly wide of the target. 15:51
38'
Sassuolo's latest attack breaks down and Milan pounce again. They're consistently threatening the hosts on the counter. This time Hernandez's cross results in a rather tame ball which lands for Consigli.15:42
36'
Berardi pushes over Kessie to hand Milan a free-kick in midfield. It's close enough for Calhanoglu to have a pop as he fires under the wall but it's nothing Consigli can't handle.15:38
35'
The corner comes out to Tonali whose thunderous shot from the edge of the box is blocked. So is Hernandez's effort. Now it's Sassuolo's time to counter but Berardi has very few options.15:46
34'
Kessie intercepts Bourabia's pass and Milan go on the counter-attack. It doesn't work out first time so Milan keep possession and try again. Saelemaekers wins a corner for the visitors.15:35
32'
Hernandez shows intimidating pace to power towards Sassuolo's goal. Toljan does just enough to dispossess the Frenchman.15:33
30'
Chance for Sassuolo! Berardi fires a crossfield pass to Djuricic who reaches the box and finds Traore on the overlap. Traore cuts back to Berardi whose shot clatters off Romagnoli and out for a corner. Milan see the corner away as Calhanoglu is fouled by Berabia.15:34
28'
Sassuolo come back on the attack but they're not moving the ball around fast enough. Calabria's fluffed clearance almost puts him in trouble until Saelemaekers comes across to bail him out.15:29
26'
GOAL! SASSUOLO 0-2 MILAN! Milan undo Sassuolo with a lightning counter-attack! Milan clear the corner and Hernandez goes racing away down the left. The Frenchman gets into the box, attracting goalkeeper Consigli, before laying off to Saelemaekers, who fires into an empty net.
Hernandez had fantastic piece of mind to square it to Saelemakers there. A two-goal lead is Milan's just reward. They've been clinical so far.15:29
25'
Sassuolo are building in confidence after their slow start. Berardi has another try from range, firing over this time, before the hosts win another corner off Calabria.15:27
23'
Berardi finds himself with some time on the edge of Milan's box and has a crack at goal. Donnarumma gets down low to his right to save it. It's a routine stop.15:25
21'
Sassuolo's German right-back Toljan gets up the other end and knocks the ball off Kessie for a corner to the hosts. Milan see it out fairly comfortably.15:24
19'
Hernandez's cross from the left is cleared by Toljan and Milan get their first corner of the game. Saelemakers blazes high and wide from outside the box from it.15:23
17'
Milan get a free-kick near the halfway line as Traore fouls Saelemaekers. It's floated towards Leao but Sassuolo get a free-kick as Berardi is blocked by Kessie.15:20
15'
Ferrari wins a free-kick for Sassuolo down the left flank as he's brought down by Diaz. Sassuolo are seeing plenty of the ball but are yet to create anything yet.15:18
13'
Sassuolo need to respond to this early flurry of Milan attacks. The visitors do not look like they are in the mood to mess around.15:15
11'
It's confirmed - Milan will not get a second goal just yet. Sassuolo breathe a sigh of relief.15:15
9'
Milan have the ball in the net again as Leao and Calhanoglu combine once more with Leao burning past Rogerio down the right to burst into the box. The Portugal striker cuts back for Calhanoglu who slots home into the bottom left corner. The officials are taking a look for offside against Saelemaekers in the buildup...16:01
7'
Leao is being a nuisance for Sassuolo's backline. The Portuguese striker again gets caught offside from Calabria's throughball.16:02
5'
Milan are looking confident so far. Opta have confirmed that they took the lead after just six seconds. It's the fastest goal in Serie A history.15:16
3'
Donnarumma tries a direct pass from the back to send Leao through on goal. Milan's striker is offside though.15:06
2'
That was a fine assist by Calhanoglu who has been influential for Milan this season. It's a very early setback for Sassuolo.16:00
1'
GOAL! SASSUOLO 0-1 MILAN! Milan take the lead in a matter of seconds! Calhanoglu dribbles forward from the kick-off to slip Leao through. Leao breaks into the box and smashes the ball right down the middle past Consigli.
The two sides are out on the pitch here in Reggio Emilia. Sassuolo are in their distinctive green and black home kit while Milan are wearing all-white.15:03
Sassuolo have won just two home games this season, the lowest of any team in Serie A's current top seven, and haven't scored here since November. They're also winless in their last eight games against Milan. Will Milan show Sassuolo who's boss?15:01
Sassuolo make six changes from their 1-1 draw away to Fiorentina last time out. Their midfield maestro Manuel Locatelli is suspended. There are three changes to the Milan side that drew 2-2 with Genoa midweek as Hernandez, Diaz and Saelemaekers come in.14:59
SUBS: Emil Roback, Jens Hauge, Lorenzo Colombo, Mateo Musacchio, Ciprian Tatarusanu, Diogo Dalot, Rade Krunic, Antonio Donnarumma, Leo Duarte, Daniel Maldini, Samu Castillejo, Andrea Conti.14:51
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Davide Calabria, Pierre Kalulu, Alessio Romagnoli (c), Theo Hernandez; Sandro Tonali, Frank Kessie; Alexis Saelemaekers, Hakan Calhanoglu, Brahim Diaz; Rafael Leao.14:50
SUBS: Kaan Ayhan, Francesco Magnanelli, Vlad Chiriches, Jeremie Boga, Lukas Haraslin, Gianluca Pegolo, Francesco Caputo, Federico Peluso, Mert Muldur, Pedro Obiang, Georgios Kyriakopoulos, Giacomo Raspadori.14:46
SASSUOLO (4-2-3-1): Andrea Consigli; Jeremy Toljan, Marlon Santos, Gian Marco Ferrari, Rogerio; Mehdi Bourabia, Maxime Lopez; Domenico Berardi (c), Hamed Junior Traore, Filip Djuricic; Gregoire Defrel.14:45
Likewise, sixth-placed Sassuolo have come back to earth with a bump after a lightning start to the season. While the goals have dried up for Roberto de Zerbi's side, they're still hovering around the European places and would very much like to keep it that way.14:54
Serie A leaders AC Milan will be looking to regain their early-season momentum as their title tilt has taken a dent through two successive draws. Stefano Pioli's Rossoneri are really missing their injured star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede's teammates will need to keep fulfilling their goalscoring responsibility in his absence.14:59
Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this Serie A match between Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium – Citta del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia.14:48
Dove si gioca la partita:
Stadio: MAPEI Stadium - Città del Tricolore Città: Reggio nell'Emilia Capienza: 23717 spettatori14:48
Sassuolo - Milan is a match of 13 day of the season Serie A 2020/2021. The match will be 20 december at 12:30 in the stadium MAPEI Stadium - Città del Tricolore in Reggio nell'Emilia. Referee of Sassuolo - Milan will be Maurizio Mariani with the help of Daniele Bindoni e Davide Imperiale. At VAR there will be Daniele Doveri.
Currently Sassuolo is 6° in the standings with 23 points (thanks of 6 wins, 5 draws and 2 defeats); while Milan is 1° in the standings with 31 points (thanks of 9 wins, 4 pareggi and 0 sconfitte). Sassuolo scored 23 goals and conceded 15; Milan scored 29 goals and conceded 14.
At home Sassuolo scored 9 points (2 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses). Away Milan scored 16 points (5 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses). Sassuolo in the last three matches of the season challenged Benevento, Fiorentina and Mil obtaining 4 points thanks to 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss. Milan in the last three matches of the season challenged Sampdoria, Parma and Geno obtaining 5 points thanks to 1 win, 2 draws and 0 losses. In the last match Sassuolo was against Milan losing 1-2 while Milan was against Genoa evening 2-2. The best scorer of the team coached by Roberto De Zerbi is Domenico Berardi with 6 goals while the best scorer of the team coached by Stefano Pioli is Zlatan Ibrahimovic with 10 goals.
Sassuolo and Milan competed 14 times in the league. In the previous matches Sassuolo won 4 times, Milan won 8 times while the number of draw was 2.
These are the statistics of the two teams in the matches played in the season:
Where to see Sassuolo-Milan You can see the live match Sassuolo-Milan here on Virgilio Sport starting 12:30 CET of 20 december. Discover who will broadcast live Sassuolo - Milan between Sky and Dazn.
