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Milan cruise to win at Marassi

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Milan cruise to win at Marassi

It was not Sampdoria’s night at the Marassi, as the hosts were on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline at the hands of a ruthless AC Milan side. Claudio Ranieri’s team’s final home game of the campaign did not go to plan from the get-go when Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed the visitors into an early lead after just four minutes.

The Blucerchiati rallied and had chances to equalise, but Stefano Pioli’s charges remained dangerous throughout and went into half-time with a one-nil lead to show for their efforts. Both sides made changes at the break, with Gaston Ramirez and Fabio Depaoli replaced by Mehdi Leris and Gonzalo Maroni in a bid to spark a Samp comeback.

Hakan Calhanoglu had other ideas, however, as the Turk doubled Milan’s lead after VAR overturned the initial decision to rule out the goal in the 52nd minute. Zlatan got on the scoresheet for a second time six minutes later when he calmly slotted the ball past from Wladimiro Falcone from the left of the penalty area, but Samp responded well and looked to cut the arrears immediately.

Simon Kjaer was adjudged to have brought down second-half sub Andrea Bertolacci in the box, but Maroni’s penalty was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Samp did manage to pull one back when Kristoffer Askildsen curled the ball into the top corner from long range for his first Serie A goal with 87 minutes on the clock. The Norwegian also became the first player born this millennium to score for Doria.

Milan had the last laugh, however, as Rafael Leao added some gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time. Sampdoria head into the final game of the campaign away to Brescia on Saturday knowing that if results go their way, the club could finish as high as 12th which, considering the difficult start, would certainly be an impressive feat.

Sampdoria 1-4 Milan (HT 0-1)

Scorers: Ibrahimovic 4; Calhanoglu 52, Ibrahimovic 58, Askildsen 88, Leao 90+2.

Sampdoria (4-4-2): Falcone; Bereszynski, Yoshida, Colley, Augello; Depaoli (Leris 46), Linetty (Askildsen 74), Vieira (Bertolacci 74), Jankto; Ramirez (Maroni 46), Quagliarella (Gabbiadini 74).

Subs not used: Audero, Bonazzoli, La Gumina, Tonelli, Ferrari, Murru, Rocha.

Coach: Ranieri.

Milan (4-2-3-1): G. Donnarumma; Calabria (Castillejo 62), Kjær, Gabbia, Hernandez; Bennacer, Kessie (Biglia 79); Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu (Bonaventura 62), Rebic (Leao 46); Ibrahimovic (Paqueta 79).

Subs not used: Begovic, A. Donnarumma, Krunic, Duarte, Laxalt, Brescianini, Maldini.

Coach: Pioli.

Referee: Pasqua (Tivoli).

Assistants: Mondin (Treviso) and De Meo (Foggia).

Fourth Official: Manganiello (Pinerolo).

VAR: Massa (Imperia).

AVAR: Lo Cicero (Brescia).

Booked: Bereszynski 36, Rebic 45+6

Stoppage time: 4+4.

Pitch: Good condition.

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