Poor Milan held at Cremonese

Milan can be joined by Lazio and Atalanta on 30 points with wins over Lecce and Monza on Wednesday after a poor night for Stefano Pioli's side at Cremonese. The away side were without suspended stars Olivier Giroud and Theo Hernandez and a clutch of injured players and that pair's combination of incisiveness and clinical finishing was sorely missed at the Stadio Giovanni Zini.

Pioli also started with explosive winger Rafael Leao on the bench as he switched things up against a team nestled just inside the relegation zone after failing to win in the opening 14 games of their first Serie A season since 1996. Milan created chances, in particular in the first half, but were kept out by an inspired Marco Carnesecchi.

Cremonese goalkeeper Carnesecchi made impressive saves from Divock Origi, Malick Thiaw and Junior Messias, while Ante Rebic missed a huge chance to put Milan ahead in the 25th minute went he sent a free header wide. Origi had a goal rightly ruled not given for offside in the 57th minute, and after Leao was eventually brought on by Pioli he was denied the winner 11 minutes later by the outstretched hand of Carnesecchi.

Milan couldn't conjure up anything else and let Napoli stretch even further away from the chasing pack. Udinese's slump in results continued after drawing 1-1 at Spezia, their fifth draw in a six-match winless run which has left them eighth ahead of their trip to Napoli on Saturday.

 

November 8, 2022