Odenthal answers Rabiot as Sassuolo hold Milan to a draw

Odenthal answered Rabiot as Sassuolo drew 1-1 with Milan at the Mapei Stadium. Milan had taken the lead but could not turn it into a victory, with Cas Odenthal’s equaliser bringing Sassuolo back into the contest.

Milan had looked the more dangerous side in the first half. Arijanet Muric was called upon twice to keep out Gonçalo Ramos. Sassuolo responded five minutes later: Odenthal found the net from a crowded situation after a corner. The defender reacted quickest in the scramble and gave his side a way back into the match.

Milan coach Amorim felt his team had not managed its advantage properly. “After the goal we should have managed the ball better, but instead we tried to press as we had been doing and often found ourselves in one-against-one situations. We conceded a corner, but we cannot concede that goal. In the second half we turned the game into transitions. There are several things to improve,” he said. He also argued that the timing and quality of decisions mattered more than adding forwards in the search for a winner.

“I don't know if it is a question of mentality. I think it is a matter of experience, but we have to close games out, kill them off and take our time when we need to. There are things we should have done better at the start of the season,” he added.

Alberto Aquilani, meanwhile, was pleased with Sassuolo’s response against a strong team, while acknowledging that his players had been less precise. Milan were left frustrated by another chance to collect three points; Sassuolo could take encouragement from recovering after falling behind.