Rejuvenation, Reijnders and rapid starts: All the key stats from Milan vs. Sassuolo | OneFootball

AC Milan strode to a 6-1 (yes, SIX) win against Sassuolo on Tuesday night at San Siro, and it is definitely a step in the right direction for Paulo Fonseca and the team.

Before the game, there was quite a lot of focus on Milan’s current Coppa Italia drought (more than 20 years), and Fonseca admitted the squad had to be ambitious in the competition. Perhaps, due to the situation his side find themselves in.

Goals from Samuel Chukwueze (x2), Tijjani Reijnders, Rafael Leao, Davide Calabria and Tammy Abraham were the difference for the Rossoneri, with four first half goals in 11 minutes killing the tie off in the early stages.

As expected with a result of this magnitude, there is some interesting stats to unpack, so let’s dive into them!

An overview of the evening

We’ll start with the most important stat of the evening – the scoreline. We have been crying out for a dominant Milan showing since Fonseca’s appointment, and this is probably the best showing of that dominance. Six goals is, regardless of the opponent, superb, and we have to credit the team for this.

Scoring more goals than big chances is not a rare thing at all, but for the Rossoneri to score 75% of their shots on goal is another massive element of the game, and a sign of the quality within the front line of the club, when they have been questioned on occasion this season.

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Another big thing of the night is how much of the ball the Diavolo saw. Seeing Milan have more of the ball has been a common occurrence in the past 12 months, but they have regularly failed to do much with it. This was not the case this evening, and it can only be a welcomed thing.

Just because it doesn’t happen often in football, let alone for the Rossoneri, we’re going to mention it again. Milan scored six, which is quite good, and we won’t get bored of saying that.

Rejuvenated Chukwueze

In the summer, there were quite a lot of moments where Chukwueze was seen to be training with Fonseca, and the Nigerian was often used as an example in drills, showing the closeness between the winger and the head coach.

Unfortunately though, the winger followed a similar trend to last season and struggled in Serie A once the season begun. Like last season, we have seen signs of what he can do with opportunities, but there will be no testament to that like Tuesday night.

Chukwueze had 64 touches of the ball, with at least two of those being to create chances, and two others being shots on target – which both happened to beat the goalkeeper, so we can say two goals.

Aside from this, he won four duels and won 100% of his tackles. In other words, if Paulo Fonseca had a winger performance template, he would show Chukwueze vs. Sassuolo on repeat. A dynamic winger, who scores goals and works for the team. Perhaps, his Milan career can now be rejuvenated, empowered by a showing of his best.

Rapid starts (especially at San Siro)

Our next stat goes back to Milan’s goalscoring (six, we told you we weren’t going to get bored of saying it). In first halves this season, the Rossoneri have scored 24 times in all competitions, which shows Fonseca’s demand for his team to start on the right foot.

We have often seen spells of dominance at the start of games, but to see a prolonged period of dominance is welcomed, and to actually be decisive in these moments is especially welcomed.

This scoring record puts them alongside Atalanta (who are the only team to match this in Serie with 24 first half goals). However, there is an element which makes the stat slightly nicer.

In matches at home, no team has scored more in the first half. The Diavolo have recorded 16 goals at San Siro in the opening period, and this is a really nice stat. San Siro is a horrible place for teams to visit, and being decisive in the early stages can quickly get the home support in a fantastic mood, making a come back much harder.

Power Reijnders at it again

The other big point to emerge from the game was Reijnders’ impact. Once again, the Dutchman was a class above, leading to suggestions that he is Milan’s shining light, and he is not just the shining light of the Diavolo.

No Serie A midfielder has outscored the 26-year-old and only Mattia Zaccagni can match his numbers – he is also a winger, though, so perhaps his inclusion is debatable. Regardless of anyone matching him, the Rossoneri’s No.8 was once again superb, and we are running out of superlatives for him.

A classy performance from a classy player. Another goal, another game.

Tijjani ‘Power’ Reijnders.