AC Milan made it 15 Serie A home wins over Chievo thanks to a Gonzalo Higuain double which helped give the Rossoneri a 3-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at the Stadio San Siro.
After a flurry of chances for Milan, a seven minute double salvo from Higuain put Gennaro Gattuso’s men in the driving seat, before Giacomo Bonaventura added a third in this 150th Rossoneri appearance.
Sergio Pellissier did pull one back for the Flying Donkeys, but it was all in vain as they continue to endure their worst ever start to a Serie A season.
Just over 48,000 fans were present to see Milan start with a flourish, as a low Franck Kessie shot brought a good save from Stefano Sorrentino. The Chievo goalkeeper had to be alert when a poor Mattia Bani header fell to Bonaventura, though his initial shot was saved by Sorrentino, the rebound fell to Hakan Calhanoglu, who was denied by a sliding block from Fabio Depaoli.
Bonaventura should have opened the scoring moments later, as a brilliant chipped ball over the top from Suso landed at the feet of the two yards out. Not that it mattered in the end, as moments later, Suso picked up the ball on the right, then slid into Higuain who made no mistake from close range.
Higuain got his second soon after, as Suso again slipped the ball through to the Argentine, who finished with ease past Sorrentino. Just before the break, Valter Bursa fired wide with a first time shot from a Depaoli cross.
Things got better for the Rossoneri as Bonaventura added a third just after the break, as his long range effort took a deflection and sailed past Sorrentino.
Chievo did pull one back thanks to Pellissier, who latched onto a poor backpass from Kessie, and rifled into the bottom corner, from the edge of the penalty area. Suso cut in from the right ands flashed just wide of goal, as Milan eased to victory with the international break looming, and the Derby della Madonnina against Inter coming immediately after.
Developing Partnership
Two goals for Higuain, assisted for both by Suso. The pair seem to be striking up a good understanding and it is beginning to bear fruit for Milan. Much derided for his one dimensional play, Suso appears to be mixing things up a little and moving away from the ‘run down the right, cut in and shoot’ way of doing things. Against Chievo, we saw dinked through balls, crosses – both in and out swinging – slide rule passes and a willingness to move inside in order to create. And now, he has the perfect foil in Higuain who he knows will be in the right position at the right time. Conversely, Higuain is a striker who thrives on being given the ball in dangerous areas, and if things continue as they are, Milan could have a very fruitful partnership for the remainder of the campaign.
Brilliant Bonaventura
Much is made of the flair players, and those who make the San Siro get to its feet. But Bonaventura is a key cog in Gattuso’s Milan machine. His tireless running and knack of getting into excellent positions is a joy to watch, though sometimes frustrating then he fails to bag simple goals from easy positions – as happened today. However, that workrate is needed, as he never allowed Chievo a moment on the ball, and was always there to offer himself as an option going forward. A player many coaches would love to have.
