AC Milan secured a 1-0 win over Sampdoria in our first Serie A game of the season, with Brahim Diaz scoring the winning goal at the Luigi Ferraris.
As expected, it was a difficult game for the Rossoneri with any trip to face Samp away being that way, and so particularly as we’re still building fitness and searching for our best form to start the year, it was a crucial victory to kick-start our campaign.
READ MORE: Five key talking points as Brahim Diaz seals Milan win over Sampdoria
For Stefano Pioli, he would have been pleased with the overall performance but fully aware that there is plenty of room for improvement, but he’ll have been left feeling positive about the influence and impact of new signing Mike Maignan and our No.10 Diaz.
Maignan distribution key to bypass Samp press
Aside from his key saves and overall control of his area in what was an impressive debut from the Frenchman, his distribution out from the back was also vital.
As seen in the images below, Sampdoria adopted a high press against us to stop us from playing out from the back and building attacks through our midfield duo of Sandro Tonali and Rade Krunic.
With that the case, Maignan often bypassed that initial press with accurate long balls forward in the opposition half, and that created an early chance for Rafael Leao where he arguably should have scored, before starting the move where Davide Calabria set up the winning goal for Diaz.
Aside from his saves & overall impressive display, Mike Maignan's distribution also key. Bypassed Samp's high press, set up dangerous chances with early Leao shot as an example & then crucially, in build-up to our goal with pass out to Calabria. 👏🏽#ForzaMilan #SampdoriaMilan pic.twitter.com/S3anOahMug
— Talk Milan (@talkmilan1) August 24, 2021
Brahim Diaz movement crucial to influence on game
Scoring the goal to secure all three points was obviously his most important contribution, but there was a lot to like about Diaz’s overall performance.
As seen in the images below, the Spaniard dropped into deep positions a lot to get on the ball and make things happen, while he was also really productive at finding space between the lines and being a threat that way too.
His change of pace to drive forward from midfield and start attacks also made us a threat, and while one criticism would be that he wasn’t close enough to Olivier Giroud to feed off his link up play enough, that’s something that will surely come depending on the opposition’s approach.
Goal aside, clever display from Brahim Diaz. Dropped deep a lot to get on ball, found space between lines to try & create. Used change of pace well to set off attacks. Positive from our No.10, would like to see him closer to Giroud to link up more too#ForzaMilan #SampdoriaMilan pic.twitter.com/7v3G1b1UQ5
— Talk Milan (@talkmilan1) August 24, 2021
Giroud’s little details of class make difference
On one hand this was simply just good centre-forward play from Giroud for the goal, but he still has to have the awareness and desire to execute it.
As Calabria squared the ball back into the box for our goal, Giroud is not only in a great position to tap home a goal for himself if the ball arrives as he’s beaten his marker, but he has also dragged his opponent with him to create the space behind for Diaz.
Our No.10 does well to run into that space to make himself an option and puts the ball in the back of the net. Overall, it was a really well-worked goal involving Maignan, Diaz and Giroud that proved to be decisive.
1) Great work from Calabria
2) Good run from Brahim Diaz
3) Key movement from Giroud. Puts himself in position to score but failing that/drags defender with him to create space behind. Obvious/small detail, but crucial as main striker to make that run#ForzaMilan #SampdoriaMilan pic.twitter.com/SbPWVnXVKU— Talk Milan (@talkmilan1) August 24, 2021
