AC Milan faced a disappointing 0-0 draw against Genoa at the San Siro, a result that overshadowed the celebrations marking the club’s 125th anniversary. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, the Rossoneri were unable to find the back of the net, leaving their supporters frustrated.
In a bid to spark a reaction following a recent loss, Milan coach Paulo Fonseca made significant changes to the lineup, opting to drop Theo Hernandez in favor of Alex Jimenez. The match also saw 17-year-old Mattia Liberali make his Serie A debut. Injuries to key players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, and Ismael Bennacer further complicated Milan’s preparations. On the other hand, Genoa’s new coach Patrick Vieira was without several players, including Junior Messias and Ruslan Malinovskyi.
Milan wore a special edition jersey for the anniversary celebrations, which included appearances from club legends. The home side started brightly, with Emerson Royal forcing an early save from Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali. However, despite their early pressure, they struggled to convert chances into goals.
Alvaro Morata, who came on as a substitute in the second half, had two significant opportunities to score but was unable to capitalize. His best chance came when he struck the crossbar from close range after being sent clear on goal.
Genoa’s defensive strategy proved effective as they managed to contain Milan’s attacking threats throughout the match. The visitors focused on frustrating their opponents and successfully limited Milan’s clear-cut chances.
As the final whistle blew, Milan’s players were met with jeers from their disappointed fans, reflecting the frustration of not being able to secure a win on such a momentous occasion. With this result, Milan remains eighth in the Serie A standings, eight points adrift of the Champions League places, while Genoa
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Thiaw, Jimenez; Fofana, Reijnders; Chukwueze (dal 77′ Okafor), Liberali (dal 61′ Camarda), Leao; Abraham (dal 46′ Morata)
GENOA (3-5-1-1): Leali; Vogliacco (dal 46′ Sabelli), Bani, Vasquez; Zanoli, Thorsby, Badelj, Frendrup, Martin; Miretti (dal 79′ Vitinha); Pinamonti.
