AC Milan Beat Salernitana 2-1 In 2023 Opener On The Road As Leao Rings In The New Year Again

AC Milan opened 2023 with a tricky trip to Salerno to face Salernitana who stole a point from us last year. Stefano Pioli was still missing numerous players, most significantly goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The side took the game by the neck in the opening fifteen minutes going up 2-0 as Rafael Leao and Sandro Tonali hit the ground running.

Leao created a few one on one chances with Ochoa but finally got the better of him as he pushed the ball wide after collecting Tonali’s curling through ball before rolling the ball in from a tight angle to open the scoring for the year. Tonali got his goal with a powerful shot off a Brahim Diaz lay up to find the back of the net on his second attempt from the run of play.

There were positive signs from Charles de Ketelaere for once as he movements, passes and dribbling all looked much better but most importantly he took some chances on goal and forced two very good saves from Ochoa. It is a shame he did not get his goal today.

Milan failed to kill off the game leading to a nervy final ten minutes as Ciprian Tatarusanu failed to save one of the only shots that came his way while Alexis Saelemaekers fell asleep with his defensive duties to allow Salernitana to pull one back and end the game 2-1.

AS Roma come next at the San Siro this weekend where Pioli will want the frontline more fluid and not as wasteful with their chances.