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Benevento jumpstart their season against a dire Milan side

Milan were abject and Benevento earned their point

Benevento Calcio v AC Milan - Serie A Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images

For those who expected an instant impact to kick off the reign of Gennaro Gattuso at Milan, there was only immediate disappointment.

Benevento Calcio v AC Milan - Serie A Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images
Benevento Calcio v AC Milan - Serie A Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images

The team, clearly hungover from a poor season thus far, managed to defy the expectations of all who watched with an all-time worst display. Milan's performance was at best lazy, and at worst unmotivated as they allowed Benevento to dominate across the pitch.

Milan managed to take the lead after a brilliant bit of play from Franck Kessie and some disruption from Nikola Kalinic that allowed a stopping Giacomo Bonaventura to head home.

Milan failed to capitalise and should have went behind, but Benevento couldn't bury a header from point blank range.

They eventually equalised after a rebound from a big Gigio Donnarumma save, but Milan came back by dispatching a wrongly awarded corner kick via Nikola Kalinic.

At 2-1, Milan still struggled and after Alessio Romagnoli was sent off, wrongly, Benevento pushed.

Benevento Calcio v AC Milan - Serie A Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images

In the 95th minute of play, Ignazio Abate gave a poor foul away on the right flank. Benevento crowded the box with all 11 men and scored following a fantastic header from their goalkeeper.

Benevento Calcio v AC Milan - Serie A Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images

A just result based on play, but Milan failed to hold a lead twice during the game. Gattuso has a lot to do following this abject result and while Benevento deservedly picked up their first point of the season, it could have easily been two more added to their tally.