A below-par performance does not stop Milan escaping with another three points, as Diaz - who had been on the pitch for less than five minutes - snatches the win with a decisive intervention from the bench. His fellow substitute Leao was even more instrumental in changing the Rossoneri's fortunes after a sluggish first half, in a match which will be long remembered in the Maldini household. For a second consecutive game, Spezia relinquish a chance of points against one of Calcio's traditional giants, leaving the Aquilotti uncomfortably close to the foot of the table.
Spezia have now lost four of their last six home fixtures in Serie A and are owners of one of the league's worst defensive records this term, so will hope to recover with relatively easier games against Verona and Salernitana in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Milan return to Champions League action next time out, when they host Spanish champions Atletico Madrid at San Siro.
That's all from Stadio Alberto Picco today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Cronaca
Formazioni
Statistiche
90'+4'
FULL-TIME: SPEZIA 1-2 MILAN16:54
90'+1'
From the left side of the area, Leao whips a curving shot just wide of the Spezia goal, with Zoet looking beaten - the Milan man has transformed their attacking output since his introduction.16:52
90'
Now Hernandez goes into the referee's notebook for a mistimed challenge on Strelec.16:53
89'
Nikolaou is booked for a late tackle on the dangerous Leao.16:50
86'
MILAN BACK IN FRONT! The Rossoneri's substitutions have proved pivotal, as Kessie's replacement Diaz finds a second goal following superb approach play from Saelemaekers inside the Spezia area. The former Real Madrid man stayed composed and fired home from close range. Spezia 1-2 Milan!
Saelemaekers danced through on the right and cut the ball back for Diaz to strike Milan's second from inside the area.16:50
84'
Leao has a right-footed shot from outside the box, which misses to the left of Zoet's goal. Milan can see time trickling through their fingers now!16:46
82'
Pioli responds to the equaliser by throwing on playmaker Diaz for Kessie, who has been largely out-of-sorts today.16:43
80'
WE ARE LEVEL! The Picco is hopping, as substitute Verde jinks inside on the right and fires off a speculative shot, which then loops away from Maignan after a heavy deflection off the bemused Tonali. Against the odds, it is now 1-1 with 10 minutes to play!
Bastoni played Verde through on the right, before the diminutive forward struck home Spezia's equalising goal.16:44
79'
As Motta becomes increasingly desperate for a reaction, Gyasi comes off for Strelec.16:41
78'
On course to continue their fine record today, Milan have conceded just one goal in their last five Serie A games on the road; keeping four clean sheets during that spell.16:38
76'
Further changes are afoot, as the bare-chested Milan ultras lead the unending chorus in the Ligurian sun; confident of another away victory. 16:37
74'
With little hope of scoring, Kessie decides to poke a shot at goal from a tight spot and is well wide with his attempt. It seems Milan are mostly concerned with running down the clock ahead of a big week of action.16:35
72'
Having provided the all-important assist for Milan's opening goal, Kalulu comes off to be replaced by the returning Calabria at right-back.16:32
69'
Gyasi earns a corner when his cross from the right is deflected and Maignan can't gather it in time. However, the French goalkeeper easily claims the resulting cross high above his defenders' heads and quickly redistributes it.16:31
67'
Following the three changes made by Spezia, the game's flow has been disrupted, but Milan will hardly mind.16:31
65'
Antiste has been lively, but is now replaced by Manaj up front for the hosts.16:27
65'
Motta takes off Sala and brings on the attacking threat of Verde instead.16:26
64'
Having been involved in much of their best play, Maggiore is replaced by Ferrer in the Spezia midfield.15:25
63'
Thiago Motta is readying some substitutes, as he prepares to shake things up in pursuit of a point.16:26
62'
Now Leao has a left-footed shot from the left side of the box saved in the bottom corner by the alert Zoet, following a pass from Saelemaekers. Milan are edging closer to a decisive second strike here!16:23
60'
Leao claims a penalty, as he hits the deck under a bumper-to-bumper challenge with Amian, but the referee is entirely disinterested in his claims. The pacy Portuguese forward has already made a big impact upon this game.16:21
59'
Bennacer comes on for young Maldini, who will never forget his full Serie A debut.17:05
58'
Goalscorer Maldini is booked for an obvious shirt-pull on Bourabia, who tries to get evade his attentions near the centre-circle.16:18
56'
Nearly a second for Milan! Virtually unopposed, Leao drifts into a useful position on the left and somewhow contrives a looping shot which strikes the frame of the goal and finds safety.16:17
54'
Again, the lively Antiste - a scorer against Juve in midweek - is involved, as his shot on the turn is palmed out low down by Maignan. The offside flag is raised once more though, so no corner is given.16:15
52'
A quick combination between Maggiore and Antiste on the edge of the Milan area sees a clipped ball across the box just missed by Gyasi, who arrives at the back post a fraction too late. The referee then rules he was marginally offside anyway.16:14
50'
A clearly unfair challenge from behind brings down Bastoni, with Tonali avoiding a booking but conceding a free-kick.16:11
48'
Having impressed today and in midweek, Kalulu gets forward from right-back once again and whips in a cross for Maldini to head home.16:10
48'
MALDINI MAGIC! Dad Paolo rises to his feat, beaming with pride, as Maldini junior thumps a close-range header from Kalulu's cross past Zoet to give Milan the lead! Just after the break, it's Spezia 0-1 Milan!
Rebic is also removed by Pioli, with the in-form Leao on in his place. Surprisingly, Maldini remains.16:08
46'
After his comeback from injury, Giroud is unable to last the pace and will be replaced by Pellegri up front for the second half.16:05
46'
The teams have re-emerged and we are back under way in Liguria!16:04
With a little more care in and around the opposition area, Spezia could be in contention for a second successive win over their Milanese counterparts, who are surely set to make changes soon after the interval.15:59
Though Milan have dominated the ball from almost the first whistle, it has in fact been Spezia who have managed the only shot on target, and the Aquilotti have routinely threatened to end the deadlock on the break. Stefano Pioli's away side have looked a little disjointed in the final third, perhaps as a result of their new-look front four.15:52
45'
HALF-TIME: SPEZIA 0-0 MILAN15:49
43'
Another Hernandez surge is ultimately thwarted by Spezia, who charge up the other end and put Milan in real trouble at the back. Only the inability of Gyasi and Nzola to get their feet sorted out when well placed inside the visitors' area allows Tomori to get back and get the ball away to safety. 15:49
42'
Romagnoli has to intervene just five yards out, as he clears a dangerous low ball into the area with a calm block.15:46
40'
Giroud can't latch on to a speculative ball through the centre by Kessie, as Zoet confidently claims above the French forward's head, on the edge of his box.15:44
38'
Spezia have a tough task on their hands today, as Milan have kept a clean sheet in eight of their 10 Serie A games since the beginning of May - more than any other team during this period in the 'big five' European Leagues. Not only that, but no goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets in those leagues this year than Milan's Maignan. 15:43
36'
Amian leaps well to deny Rebic a clean header at goal, causing the Croatian to aim his attempt wide of the mark. 15:40
33'
In fact, after some deliberation, the referee opts to award a corner to Milan. The set-piece is cleared, but the Rossoneri retain possession and are now pressing heavily around the hosts' penalty area, seeking to steal a half-time advantage.15:40
31'
A typically rampaging Hernandez run is ended on the edge of the area, with the French full-back left writhing around on the deck as a result. Surely he'll be up and ready to take the resulting free-kick though?15:35
29'
Maggiore's header from the centre of the box goes close to threatening Maignan's goal but misses to the right, following a cross from Antiste.15:34
26'
CLOSE! Hernandez whips a left-footed free-kick just over the angle of post and crossbar, but Zoet may have had it covered even if it had dipped a foot or two lower.15:31
25'
The referee decides that Sala's foul on Kalulu is deserving of the game's first yellow card.15:29
24'
A desperate lunge by Sala trips Kalulu, who is flying towards the area at full tilt, earning Milan a free-kick in dangerous territory.15:28
22'
Antiste requires some treatment for a blow to the face, allowing several players to refresh themselves with water in sunny La Spezia.15:25
20'
Nzola works some space again, this time firing off a firm shot which Maignan has to work hard to repel, but the offside flag has gone up in any case. Spezia are certainly posing a danger to their more illustrious visitors on the counter today.15:23
18'
Before today's action, Milan have not lost in Serie A since April - against Lazio - and since the beginning of May, no team has gained more points than the Rossoneri in the division (26).15:21
16'
Debutant Maldini chops down Amian, conceding a free-kick, but Milan eventually recover the ball.15:19
14'
Rebic is caught narrowly offside from a lofted Hernandez pass, ending a promising Milan move down the left flank.15:17
12'
A tidy reverse ball from Antiste finds Nzola inside the box, but the Angola international can't get a clean connection on his shot and Maignan is well placed to stop the ball low down at his near post.15:16
9'
Just outside the box, Tonali runs onto a loose ball, but scuffs his effort well wide of Zoet's left-hand post. Milan are now easing into control of the match.15:13
7'
An over-eager challenge from Nzola near the centre-circle brings down Kessie, but Milan fail to make good use of the resulting free-kick and end up recycling the ball around the halfway line. 15:11
5'
Tomori hits the turf and is limping heavily upon his return to two feet, having blocked Maggiore's right-wing cross on the stretch.15:09
3'
Spezia pose their first threat, as Maignan dives at the feet of Bastoni to thwart the full-back on the left side of the Milan area.15:07
2'
Saelemaekers goes down under a crunching challenge from Sala, which gifts Milan a free-kick 30 yards out on the right.15:04
1'
We are under way at Stadio Alberto Picco!15:02
The teams are out on the pitch in picturesque La Spezia, with kick-off just minutes away!14:58
A famous name in Milan history gets a rare first-team opportunity today, as Daniel Maldini starts for the visitors, who also name Olivier Giroud in the XI upon his recovery from injury. Spezia, meanwhile, drop Daniele Verde for last season's top scorer M'Bala Nzola in attack.14:55
SUBS: Ciprian Tatarusanu, Andreas Jungdal, Ismael Bennacer, Rafael Leao, Pietro Pellegri, Davide Calabria, Matteo Gabbia, Brahim Diaz, Samu Castillejo, Andrea Conti, Fode Ballo-Toure.14:52
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori, Alessio Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Franck Kessie, Sandro Tonali; Alexis Saelemaekers, Daniel Maldini, Ante Rebic; Olivier Giroud.14:50
SUBS: Ivan Provedel, Petar Zovko, Rey Manaj, Daniele Verde, Salvador Ferrer, Nicolo Bertola, Eddie Salcedo, Suf Podgoreanu, David Strelec, Jakub Kiwior.14:46
Having earned their first win of the new campaign last weekend, struggling Spezia were leading 2-1 against Juventus, well into the second half of their midweek encounter. However, the Aquilotti were hauled back and then overtaken in the final 25 minutes, leaving them empty-handed.14:40
A Wednesday evening win over Venezia saw Milan equal the 13 points they posted after five games last season, and they have only matched or bettered that tally twice since the turn of the century. The victory was ultimately sealed by full-back Theo Hernandez, who sprang from the bench to weigh in with a goal and an assist.14:36
Following a fine start to the season, third-placed Milan return to the Picco for the first time since Spezia's historic win against them last February. On that occasion, two second-half goals for the top-flight debutants started the Rossoneri's slide out of Scudetto contention.14:33
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Serie A clash between Spezia and Milan at Stadio Alberto Picco!14:31
Dove si gioca la partita:
Stadio: Alberto Picco Città: La Spezia Capienza: 10336 spettatori14:31
Spezia - Milan is a match of 6 day of the season Serie A 2021/2022. The match will be 25 semptember at 15:00 in the stadium Alberto Picco in La Spezia. Referee of Spezia - Milan will be Gianluca Manganiello with the help of Davide Imperiale e Valerio Vecchi. At VAR there will be Daniele Orsato.
Currently Spezia is 17° in the standings with 4 points (thanks of 1 win, 1 draw and 4 defeats); while Milan is 1° in the standings with 16 points (thanks of 5 wins, 1 pareggio and 0 sconfitte). Spezia scored 8 goals and conceded 15; Milan scored 12 goals and conceded 3.
At home Spezia scored 0 points (0 wins, 0 draws and 3 losses). Away Milan scored 4 points (1 win, 1 draw and 0 losses). Spezia in the last three matches of the season challenged Venezia, Juventus and Mil obtaining 3 points thanks to 1 win, 0 draws and 2 losses. Milan in the last three matches of the season challenged Lazio, Juventus and Venezi obtaining 7 points thanks to 2 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses. In the last match Spezia was against Milan losing 1-2 while Milan was against Venezia winning 2-0. The best scorer of the team coached by Thiago Motta is Simone Bastoni with 2 goals while the best scorer of the team coached by Stefano Pioli is Brahim Díaz with 3 goals.
Spezia and Milan competed 2 times in the league. In the previous matches Spezia won 1 time, Milan won 1 time while there have never been draws.
These are the statistics of the two teams in the matches played in the season:
Where to see Spezia-Milan You can see the live match Spezia-Milan here on Virgilio Sport starting 15:00 CET of 25 semptember. Discover who will broadcast live Spezia - Milan between Sky and Dazn.
