Milan-Crotone: 4-0 - Serie A 2020/2021. Final result and commentary from the game

Where the match is played:
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza
City: Milano
Capacity for: 80074 people14:30

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Serie A meeting between Milan and Crotone at San Siro!14:30

Milan have the chance to go back to the top of the table with a win today after rivals Inter leapfrogged them after a win over Fiorentina on Friday. After going unbeaten in their first 15 games of the season, Milan have lost two of their last five (W3), with both losses coming at home. As for Crotone, they could move off the bottom if they avoid defeat, but have won just one of their six games in 2021 so far, losing the other five. 14:33

MILAN STARTING XI (4-2-3-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Alessio Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Soualiho Meite, Franck Kessie; Alexis Saelemaekers, Rafael Leao, Ante Rebic; Zlatan Ibrahimovic.14:37

MILAN SUBS: Pierre Kalulu Kyatengwa, Jens Hauge, Daniel Maldini, Samu Catillejo, Mario Mandzukic, Antonio Donnarumma, Matteo Gabbia, Diogo Dalot, Rade Krunic, Ciprian Tatarusanu, Hakan Calhanoglu.14:40

CROTONE STARTING XI (3-5-2): Alex Cordaz; Koffi Djidji, Vladimir Golemic, Sebastiano Luperto; Andrea Rispoli, Niccolo Zanellato, Ahmad Benali, Milos Vulic, Pedro Pereira; Adam Ounas, Samuel Di Carmine.15:37

CROTONE SUBS: Simy, Jacopo Petriccione, Emmanuel Riviere, Eduardo Henrique, Luca Marrone, Luis Rojas, Giovanni D'Aprile, Lisandro Magallan, Gian Marco Crespi, Marco Festa.15:37

Stefano Pioli makes just one change to the side that beat Bologna last time out as he brings in Meite for Sandro Tonali, who misses out with a hip problem.14:49

Giovanni Stroppa makes four changes to his team after their loss to Genoa in their last game, with Djidji, Luperto, Rispoli, Vulic and Ounas coming in. Magallan, Marrone and Simy drop to the bench, while Junior Messias is suspended. Arkadiusz Reca was supposed to start, but after getting injured in the warm-up, Pereira is brought in.15:38

Crotone have picked up the fewest points away from home out of all the sides in the top 5 European leagues this season (two), whilst they're one of just two teams yet to win on the road alongside Schalke.14:55

The teams are coming out onto the pitch now, with kick-off just moments away.15:00

Ibrahimovic gets the game underway for Milan! 15:03

Kessie does really well to ride the challenge from Djidji to get into the left of the box before floating a cross to the far post. It's cleared by Golemic, but only as far as Meite on the edge of the box, but he fires his volley high over the bar.15:06

Ounas cuts inside from the right and makes a driving run to the edge of the box. The Milan defenders sit back and allow him a lot of space so he has a go from difference, but it's high and wide of the target.15:08

OFFSIDE! It's well worked by the home side as Ibrahimovic touches the ball onto Kessie and he backheels it to the edge of the six-yard box. Calabria puts it past Cordaz on the stretch, but it won't count as Ibrahimovic was offside in the build-up.15:10

GOOD SAVE! Crotone take the corner short to Ounas and he turns past Hernandez before having a shot from a tight angle on the right wing. It's dipping under the bar and Donnarumma gets a hand to it to tip it over.15:12

Crotone are keeping the pressure on Milan as Rispoli finds a pocket of space on the right this time. He floats a good cross into the box and Di Carmine flicks it towards the far post but sends it just wide.15:14

It's a great run through Crotone's half by Hernandez and the defenders just can't get close to him. He touches it out to Leao and he hits his shot first time, but Djidji gets across to block it.15:15

It's patient play from Milan as they move out from the back and try to break down Crotone's shape. It's worked out to Hernandez who is high on the left, but a free-kick is given to the visitors after Ibrahimovic pushed Golemic off the ball.15:18

SAVE! Rebic's flick-on catches out the Crotone defenders and he picks out Calabria's late run into the area. It's a tight angle, but he gets his header on target only for Cordaz to push it away.15:22

Benali plays a low throughball into Di Carmine on the edge of the box and he has to get his shot away first time as he's quickly being closed down. Romagnoli is in his way though and makes the block.15:24

Leao wins a free-kick through the middle for Milan and Ibrahimovic is standing over. Despite the difference, he goes for goal, drilling his effort at the wall. It hits Golemic and he stays down for a couple of minutes after being winded. 15:25

Crotone lose the ball when they push out of their half and Rebic breaks quickly on the counter. He has support up with him as he swings a cross in from the left, but it's blocked by Rispoli who tracked back with him.15:26

The visitors are keeping the ball well at the moment, but all of their possession is in their own half of the field. Luperto tries to get his side forward with a throughball, but it's Calabria that comes away with it.15:28

It's another good run by Rebic down the left and he pulls it back for Saelemaekers in the middle. He swipes at the ball as he sends it towards Ibrahimovic and plays his pass behind the forward and out of play.15:29

Crotone switch play from right to left as they try to open up some space in behind Milan's defence. Vulic pulls away from Calabria and tries to chip the ball into Di Carmine, but it's cut out by Tomori.15:32

Leao stopped his run to receive Ibrahimovic's pass and the return pass was perfectly weighted for the forward to run onto and hit first time.15:35

Crotone are looking for a quick response to Milan's goal as they keep the hosts penned back in their own half. It's worked out to Pereira on the left, but his cross is blocked by Saelemaekers, who puts it out for a corner.15:36

Milan break quickly after winning the ball back and Ibrahimovic whips a good cross into the middle of the box. He's looking for Leao's run, but it's over his head and straight out for a goal-kick.15:38

Saelemaekers picks up the first yellow card of the game after he leaves his foot hanging to catch Pereira and he gives away a free-kick in a good position on the left for Crotone.16:00

The free-kick is curled in by Vulic to the near post where Di Carmine runs onto it. He tries to flick it on with his heel, but gets it wrong and sends it straight out of play for a goal-kick.15:41

Ibrahimovic is the furthest forward for Milan and he's one-on-one with Cordaz as he carries the ball into the box. He waits too long to have a shot though and Luperto gets back to block his run just before the offside flag goes up.15:43

Crotone break quickly from a Milan corner with Ounas dropping deep to start off the move. He carries it a long way before playing it out to Pereira on the left. He curls a good cross into the middle, but Di Carmine's header is straight at Donnarumma.15:46

Crotone are struggling to keep hold of the ball at the moment as Pereira tries to make something happen down the left again. He skips past Calabria, but then can't find a way past Saelemaekers when he cuts inside.15:47

Calabria intercepted the ball and cleared his lines, but was caught late by Vulic and he's stayed down holding his knee. The referee has gone over to check on him, but he's back to his feet and able to carry on without treatment.15:49

HALF-TIME: MILAN 1-0 CROTONE.15:49

Milan take a 1-0 lead over Crotone into half-time. The hosts had the ball in the back of the net early on, when Calabria turned it in on the stretch, only for it to be disallowed for offside. They did take the lead in the 30th minute through Ibrahimovic when he fired across goal and into the far side netting for his 500th club career goal. At the other end, Ounas forced a good save out of Donnarumma while Di Carmine sent a header just wide of the target.16:03

Pioli will be pleased with his side's performance so far as they created more chances, but they need to be more clinical if they want to stay on top. As for Crotone, they caused Milan some real problems when they did get forward, so Stroppa will want more of the same after the break.15:58

There's a change at the break for Milan and it's Castillejo that's coming on for Saelemaekers.16:06

Crotone get us back underway for the second half!16:06

Milan are seeing a lot of the ball in the opening minutes of the second half and Hernandez is pushing forward down the left. He touches it onto Rebic and continues his run to get the return pass, but Vulic wins it back for Crotone.16:09

Rebic is finding a lot of space down the left for Milan at the moment as he gets in behind Crotone again. He wins a corner, which the visitors don't clear and Kessie's shot from the edge of the box is caught by Cordaz.16:11

Crotone just can't get out of their own half as Milan continue to push forward. This time, it's Calabria that gets forward down the right and he floats a cross into the near post, but Luperto clears it ahead of Leao.16:12

Of Ibrahimovic's 500 club career goals across all competitions, he's scored 82 of those for Milan - only for Paris Saint-Germain (156) has he scored more.16:14

Crotone are seeing more of the ball at the moment, but they just can't find a way in behind Milan. It's patient play from the visitors until they get into the final third and then they're giving possession away with sloppy passes.16:17

There are shouts for a penalty from Milan as Rebic goes to ground in the box. He's claiming that Rispoli pushed him, but he went down easily, and the contact came just outside the box, so the referee waves for play to go on.16:19

Ibrahimovic picks out Rebic in space on the left again and he has time to swing a good cross into the middle of the box. He's looking for Leao in the middle, but it's cleared by Djidji at the near post.16:20

GOOD SAVE! Rebic squares the ball to Leao on the edge of the box and it's perfectly weighted for him to hit first time. Cordaz gets down quickly though and manages to tip it wide of the far post.16:22

That was Leao's last involvement in the game as he's taken off for Calhanoglu.16:22

Crotone are making their first change now and it's Ounas that's making way for Riviere.16:25

It's a good run by Hernandez to draw the defenders to him before he drills his low cross into Ibrahimovic.16:25

Rispoli puts a long throw-in into the box, but he can't beat the first man as Tomori heads it clear. They have another attempt with Benali's cross, but again, he can't pick out a team-mate.16:59

Milan are on the attack again and Crotone just can't stop Hernandez's run down the left. He drives forward into the final third, but his cross is put out for a corner by Golemic.16:59

It's a great corner from Calhanoglu as he curls it around to the far post and picks out Rebic.16:32

It's Calhanoglu that sets up Rebic again. This time, he latches onto the loose ball on the right of the box and drills his cross back across the area to pick him out.16:33

Crotone are making their second change of the game and it's Benali that's coming off with an injury and Henrique replaces him.16:33

Rispoli is late as he tracks back to stop Hernandez's run and he gives away a free-kick as well as picking up a booking.16:34

CHANCE! The ball is looped into the box by Castillejo and Ibrahimovic has a free header in the middle. He nods it down, trying to catch out Cordaz at his near post, but the keeper gets down quickly to hold it.16:57

Crotone are being penned back deep in their own half as Milan continue to push for another goal. Calabria curls another good cross in from the right, but Golemic does well to just get there ahead of Ibrahimovic at the far post.16:37

Double change for Milan now and Rebic is the first to make way, with Hauge on for him.16:37

Ibrahimovic is also making way as Mandzukic replaces him.16:38

Crotone are making a double change now as well. Vulic is being brought off, with Petriccione on in his place.16:39

Di Carmine is also brought off, with Simy on for him.16:40

Castillejo isn't closed down as he cuts inside from the right so he decides to have a shot despite the tight angle. He keeps his shot low as he hits it towards the bottom corner, but Cordaz gets down to deny him.16:40

Castillejo is shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Djidji.16:46

Crotone's corner is swung deep into the box and Donnarumma comes off his line to collect, but completely misses the ball. Simy is waiting at the far post, but Hernandez does enough to stop him from reaching it.16:56

Calhanoglu is given time on the ball on the edge of the box and he plays a one-two with Castillejo to open up a bit more space for himself. The return ball is overhit though and Crotone intercept it.16:46

GREAT SAVE! Again, Crotone don't deal with the ball into the box and Mandzukic heads it back across goal from the far post. Golemic tries to clear it in the middle, but sends it towards goal and Cordaz reaches back to push it off the line.16:47

Crotone broke quickly on the counter and Calabria is booked after he stops the move by pulling back Riviere.16:48

Final change for Milan now and it's Kessie that's making way for Krunic.01:40

Crotone are pushing for a late consolation goal, with Enrique cutting inside from the left. He finds himself in a pocket of space so drills a low shot towards the far post, but Romagnoli blocks it.16:58

FULL-TIME: MILAN 4-0 CROTONE.16:50

Braces for Ibrahimovic and Rebic help Milan cruise to a 4-0 win over Crotone. Ibrahimovic opened the scoring in the first half with his 500th club career goal when he fired past Cordaz. Milan dominated after the break and the forward netted his second with a simple tap-in. Rebic then scored twice in 70 seconds, first heading in from a corner and hitting his second on the volley, to seal the points for the hosts.17:00

That win takes Milan back to the top of Serie A, two points clear of rivals Inter. They're back to winning ways at home and their attention turns to next weekend when they travel to Spezia. Crotone stay bottom of the table, four points from safety. They've now lost their last three and Stroppa will be hoping they can turn things around against Sassuolo.16:59

That's all for today, goodbye! 16:58