AC Milan secured their first win of the 2024-25 season in dominant fashion, thrashing Venezia 4-0 at San Siro on Saturday night. Remarkably, ALL FOUR goals came in the first half, putting the game to bed before the break.
Theo Hernandez opened the scoring just 90 seconds in, sneaking a shot past Joronen from a tight angle. Youssouf Fofana doubled the lead shortly after with a close-range effort following a ricochet. Milan then capitalized on two penalties, with Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham converting after Abraham and Rafael Leao won the spot-kicks.
The win alleviates some pressure on Paulo Fonseca and his squad ahead of crucial fixtures against Liverpool in the Champions League and Inter in the league. Fonseca made four changes to his lineup, including handing Tammy Abraham his full debut.
Milan’s early pressure paid off when Theo Hernandez, a constant threat against Venezia, scored quickly. Despite a couple of scares from Venezia, including a close miss from Oristanio, Milan tightened their grip on the game. The second goal came from a corner, as Matteo Gabbia flicked in a Pulisic cross, before penalties from Pulisic and Abraham sealed the game by the half-hour mark.
Milan continued pushing for more in the second half, with Rafael Leao, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Gabbia all coming close. Venezia’s night worsened when a goal was disallowed after a foul on Loftus-Cheek, with Nicolussi Caviglia sent off for a second yellow card.
Substitutions by Fonseca allowed Milan to manage the game comfortably, with Yunus Musah, Kevin Zeroli, Noah Okafor, Alvaro Morata and Samuel Chukwueze making appearances.
Loftus-Cheek’s late effort flew over, and Milan cruised to a much-needed win as the final whistle blew. The victory sets Milan up well for their tough upcoming fixtures and provides a boost in confidence for the team and Fonseca.
Match Ratings:
⭐ Man of the Match: Rafael Leao (7,5 rating) Constant threat, won a penalty, and assisted Theo Hernandez with a great pass. Milan’s most influential player in our opinion. Played with a smile on his face again.
⭐ EQUAL Man of the Match: Theo Hernandez (7,5 rating) Excellent at both ends, diligent in defense and dangerous in attack. Scored early with a well-timed run.
📉 Flop of the Match: Emerson Royal (6.0 rating) - Solid display, focused on his positioning but offered very little going forward. Made a mistake that would have led to the Venezia goal had it not been ruled out after a VAR check. A more attacking presence will be needed in future games. This is the second time in a row he's been voted Flop of the Match via our ratings however.
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