**Bartesaghi Brace Not Enough as Milan Surrender Two-Goal Lead in Sassuolo Stalemate**
AC Milan squandered a commanding position to settle for a frustrating 2-2 draw against Sassuolo at San Siro, with Davide Bartesaghi’s heroics ultimately overshadowed by a defensive collapse.
The visitors stunned the home crowd early when I. Kone broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, capitalizing on Milan’s sluggish start. Tensions rose shortly after, with both A. Fadera and R. Loftus-Cheek collecting yellow cards in the 23rd minute during a heated exchange.
Bartesaghi emerged as Milan’s unlikely savior, restoring parity in the 34th minute before completing his brace just after halftime in the 47th minute to give the Rossoneri a 2-1 advantage. The young defender’s contributions should have set the platform for Milan to control proceedings, and they nearly extended their lead when A. Rabiot found the net in the 67th minute—only for VAR to cruelly intervene and rule the goal offside.
That missed opportunity proved costly. Sassuolo substitute A. Lauriente capitalized on Milan’s wastefulness, striking in the 77th minute to salvage a point for the visitors. The late equalizer exposed Milan’s inability to convert territorial dominance into a decisive result.
The statistics paint a damning picture of Milan’s profligacy. Despite controlling 58.7% possession, registering 13 shots, and earning seven corners, the hosts generated just 1.24 xG compared to Sassuolo’s 1.07—suggesting both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances. Milan’s 90% pass completion reflected their technical superiority, yet their 50% tackle success rate highlighted defensive vulnerabilities.
Sassuolo’s disciplined defensive display—30 effective clearances and 13 interceptions—frustrated Milan throughout, while C. Pulisic’s 73rd-minute introduction failed to spark the breakthrough Milan desperately needed.
Late substitutions, including Bartesaghi’s 90th-minute withdrawal after his match-winning performance turned bittersweet, couldn’t prevent two precious points from slipping away. For Milan, it’s two dropped rather than one gained.
