GdS: From Colombo and Hauge to Messias and Ballo-Toure – Milan’s unlikely heroes under Pioli | OneFootball

Fode Ballo-Toure was AC Milan’s latest unlikely hero on Saturday night as he scored the winner against Empoli putting a difficult few months behind him.

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport have recalled that Stefano Pioli has often had a hand with contributions from players that perhaps were not expected to be protagonists for a number of reasons.

Firstly there was the Europe League qualifier against Bodo/Glimt at San Siro when Lorenzo Colombo was called to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, scoring after half an hour in his first senior start for the club in a 3-2 win.

Then there was Pierre Kalulu, who scored an equaliser with five minutes left back on 16 December 2020 in a 2-2 draw against Genoa at the Marassi, preserving the unbeaten run.

In March 2021, Milan arrived in Verona to play Hellas in full emergency with Soualiho Meite in midfield, Samu Castillejo on the left, Diogo Dalot in place of Theo Hernandez and Emil Roback the only forward on the bench. However, Rade Krunic and Diogo Dalot stepped up to seal a 2-0 win.

On April 3 of the same year, Jens Petter Hauge came forward with a big equalising goal against Sampdoria. It would end up being his last contribution for the club, but it would prove to be a valuable point earned.

Daniel Maldini got his first senior goal for the club on 25 September 2021, as the Rossoneri pulled out a 2-1 win against the Ligurians. They would not lose until mid-November.

Ciprian Tatarusanu stepped up in the derby with Mike Maignan out of action due to a wrist injury, as the Romanian goalkeeper stopped Lautaro’s penalty keeping the score at 1-1. Milan would win the return leg 2-1, clinching head-to-head advantage in the table and subsequently the Scudetto.

In the Champions League there was one of the most beautiful stories of recent years as Junior Messias – who delivered refrigerators through the streets of Turin a few years prior – scored the winner against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. It was Milan’s first win in the competition for over seven years.

Kalulu again stepped up at a vital time when he scored a winner against Empoli at San Siro with a lovely sweeping shot from the edge of the box in a 1-0 win. On Saturday, it was Ballo-Toure’s turn to join the list.