Milan Collapse To Roma In The Season Finale

Sassuolo's 3-1 victory over Inter ensured that regardless of the outcome of this match, Milan would finish the season mired in seventh place. However, that doesn't account for what was surely one of the worst performances of the season from the Rossoneri. Despite rallying in the final ten minutes, Milan were entirely outclassed by a Roma side whose slick passing and pace on the break was simply too much for them to handle.

Right from the off, Milan looked disorganised and unmotivated and it wasn't long before Roma had them pegged back within their own half. Youngster Manuel Locatelli was handed his first ever start, but despite a few moments of individual skill he seem over-awed by the sense of occasion and made a handful of errors. Cristian Brocchi's team selection was downright bizarre. A sluggish centre half pairing of Phillipe Mexes and Alex saw Alessio Romagnoli pushed out to left back, whereas Mario Balotelli started yet again despite a horrendous run of form. Whilst the Rossoneri clearly had one eye on next week's Coppa Italia final against Juventus, it doesn't excuse this kind of capitulation.

Roma dominated the game from the off, creating a number of clear cut opportunities. Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock fairly early, slotting the ball comfortably past a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma. Unsurprisingly it was Stephane El Shaarawy who added the second for the Giallorossi. The winger has enjoyed a fantastic second half of the season on loan there from Milan and returned here to pile the misery on for the Rossoneri. Graciously, Il Faraone declined to celebrate, a gesture that earned him a round of applause from the home crowd after he was substituted late on in the match. Despite several fine saves from Donnarumma, Roma added a third goal late on in the second half with Francesco Totti back heeling the ball to Salah for Emerson to go on and grab the goal.

Milan rallied in the final ten minutes and a number of late chances did eventually yield a goal, courtesy of Carlos Bacca, but it was scant consolation by this point. Keisuke Honda wasted a wonderful opportunity as he blasted a shot high over the bar. Even a returning Giacomo Bonaventura failed to exert his influence on the game, despite drawing a phenomenal diving save from Roma keeper Wojciech Szczesny. As satisfying as this late response was, it will have left many fans wondering where that same heart and determination was for the first eighty minutes, not that it made much of a difference either way. The retiring Christian Abbiati looked distinctly unimpressed with the performance. All that's left now for Milan, is to hope that somehow Juventus falter in the Coppa Italia next weekend. In all honesty however, it's a long shot and in all likelihood, Milanisti can look forward to another season without European football at the San Siro.