Milan faced Benevento tonight and the game ended with a 2-0 win for the Rossoneri which allowed the team to remain in the top four spots while hoping for a bad result for one of Juventus, Atalanta or Napoli who will play tomorrow.
Milan played according to the 4-2-3-1 formation relying on these players: G. Donnarumma; Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli, Hernandez; Bennacer, Kessie; Saelemaekers, Çalhanoğlu, Leao; Ibrahimović.
While on the other side, Benevento used the same 4-3-2-1 formation and this was their line-up: Montipò; De Paoli, Glik, Caldirola, Barba; Dabo, Viola, Ionița; Iago Falque, Improta; Lapadula.
Milan started the match with great fluidity and it was clear that the team wanted to react positively to their recent bitter loss against Lazio. And after a few minutes, Çalhanoğlu scored Milan’s first goal at the 5th minute after a very good series of passes between Milan players and a feint from Kessié that allowed Çalhanoğlu to be in a suitable shooting position.
However, Lapadula was very close to equalising for Benevento at the 10th minute since he received a pass towards the box but fortunately for Milan, Dalot was successful in disturbing him and in obliging him to shoot the ball off target since Lapadula couldn’t coordinate his body well.
At the 13th minute, a double chance came for Milan when Saelemaekers found himself in front of the goal and shot but Montipò saved the ball and then Ibrahimović tried again but his shot was not powerful enough to disturb Montipò.
Benevento reacted once again after two minutes when Ionita received a pass on the right wing and shot the ball with power, but Donnarumma was attentive enough to save it.
Then, the 15th minute witnessed a counter-attack for Milan that ended with a Leao shot that was saved by Montipò, who also saved Hernandez’s powerful shot at the 37th minute as well.
Milan missed another big chance at the 45th minute after Bennacer had a counter-attacking opportunity, run with the ball towards the box and passed to Calha, the latter’s cross however was deviated and Bennacer shot the ball but it hit Benevento’s defender, even though there was Ibra and Hernandez waiting to receive a pass on the left side.
Moreover, Ibrahimović had a goalscoring chance at the 47th minute in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper but Montipò was able to save the Swedish’s shot miraculously.
In the second-half Milan started with the same intensity and Ibrahimović immediately threatened Benevento with a shot at the 47th minute. This was followed by a reaction from Benevento with a shot from Iago Falque at the 52th minute. Milan however did not retreat and continued attacking. The following opportunity was initiated by Dalot who penetrated with great determination from the right flank and passed the ball to Çalhanoğlu whose shot a few inches away from the goal.
Two minutes later, Ibrahimović had another goalscoring opportunity after he exchanged passes with Saelemaekers, dribbled past Glik and shot the ball, yet Montipò was decisive once again by saving his shot.
The second goal then came for Milan at the 60th minute by Hernandez following Ibrahimović’s shot that was deflected by Montipò.
Milan were able to conserve their lead until the end of the match with Benevento being only dangerous at the 66th minute when Insigne exchanged passes with Lapadula and then Insigne shot the ball with power but wasn’t able to confuse Donnarumma.
