Milan were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw on the road against Sassuolo in Serie A, after Adrien Rabiot’s fierce strike was equalized by Cas Odenthal. The match was marred by a worrying injury to Matteo Gabbia, who was carried off on a stretcher in tears during his first start of the season.
The Rossoneri had successfully shifted to a four-man defense in their 3-0 win over Lecce before the international break but were missing Alexis Saelemaekers, who needed ankle surgery. Luka Modric was given a rest from the starting eleven, while Diego Moreira and Christian Pulisic operated behind Goncalo Ramos. Sassuolo, for their part, entered the game after a 3-2 victory over Juventus followed by a loss to Monza, with multiple players sidelined due to injury.
Sassuolo 1-1 Milan as Gabbia sustains a serious injury
Gabbia’s first start of the season was abruptly ended when he stretched to challenge as Armand Laurienté sprinted away. The defender seemed to hyperextend his leg and suffered a severe strain to his left thigh, leaving him unable to stand. He was taken off on a stretcher in tears and replaced by Koni De Winter.
The delays continued soon after play restarted, as Fedde Leysen limped off with a badly sprained knee. Cas Odenthal came on in his place, later playing a key role in Sassuolo’s equalizer.
Milan produced the first real chances as the half wore on. Rabiot headed a free kick from Moreira over the bar before Moreira tested goalkeeper Arijanet Muric from close range. Ramos then had his header from a Samuel Chukwueze cross tipped over, while Muric also denied Moreira after the attacker turned between two defenders and saved a Strahinja Pavlovic header at the back post.
Adrien Rabiot puts Milan ahead against Sassuolo
Modric came on at half-time, replacing the booked Estupinan and allowing Moreira to shift to full-back. Sassuolo hit back with chances of their own, as Vasilije Adzic linked with Domenico Berardi before forcing a save from Mike Maignan. Josh Doig also volleyed a Berardi cross over the bar.
Milan finally broke the deadlock when Rabiot ran beyond the offside trap to meet Modric’s through ball. He blasted fiercely into the roof of the net at the near top corner, surprising Muric, though the goalkeeper seemed to have a chance of stopping the shot from that angle.
Sassuolo threatened an immediate reply, with Maignan making a difficult save to deny Kieron Bowie before smothering Kristian Thorstvedt’s follow-up flick. The hosts kept pushing forward and found their equalizer from a corner delivered by Laurienté. After the ball was flicked on, Odenthal poked it into the net from seven yards through a crowd of players.
Sassuolo pushes for a winner as Milan settles for a draw
The equalizer opened up the contest, with both teams looking for a late winner. Muric rushed out to prevent Chukwueze from reaching a through ball by Pulisic, while substitute Alphadjo Cisse forced another save with a curling effort that was pushed away.
Sassuolo thought they had scored again in the 88th minute when Thorstvedt fired in a loose ball from close range. However, the goal was ruled out because the referee had already blown for a push by Bowie on Ramos.
The hosts had the final opportunity of the match, but Maignan collected Thorstvedt’s strike from beneath the crossbar. Milan therefore left with a point after Rabiot’s opener was cancelled out by Odenthal, while Gabbia’s injury remained the most troubling moment of the evening.