Player Ratings: Genoa 1-2 AC Milan – Maignan stunning; substitutes key | OneFootball

AC Milan clinched all three points after a two-minute turnaround against Genoa, getting a little help from the substitutes. Below are the player ratings for the Rossoneri.

If you haven’t already, make sure to check out how we decide the player ratings. From the scale to what affects the rating, we have compiled everything there.

Starting XI

Maignan (9 – MOTM): Talk about making a difference! That save (yes, you know which one I mean) was incredible and the replays showed it was just centimetres from going in. Then he managed to save the rebound. Before that, he had also made a fantastic save on a low shot from Norton-Cuffy. He could do nothing about the goal conceded, but he’s a huge part of why Milan won tonight.

Tomori (6): Overall, it was solid defending from the Englishman with no mistakes to note, and some decent passes forward. He had one great ball over the top for Pulisic which, unluckily, hit the winger’s back.

Gabbia (6.5): He did everything right on the goal conceded, picking up his man, so all blame must fall on his colleague (which we will get to). In any case, he battled a lot for the entire game and had several good interventions/clearances as a result. Exactly what you want from the central defender in a back-three.

Photo by AC Milan

Pavlovic (5.5): He was more involved than the other centre-backs in build-up, but perhaps that was just because Milan chose to play on the left-hand side more. Unfortunately, all the positives were overshadowed by the defending on Genoa’s goal. He left Vitinha completely alone and tried to pick up Gabbia’s man instead. Rating is slightly rescued by some good clearances at the end.

Jimenez (6): The youngster wasn’t super involved, admittedly, but he did well when he got on the ball tonight. He certainly used his speed one more than one occasion and also had a very good cross at the start of the game. Defensively, as a wing-back, he did well.

Fofana (N/A): He had a pretty decent start to the game, often finding some space to operate, but we obviously didn’t see enough to give him a rating. He was taken off after 28 minutes following a discomfort of some sort, but it didn’t look too serious.

Reijnders (6): The Dutchman could have done slightly better in the decisive moments, that much is true, but he did play the ball for Leao just before the winner. At least we cannot fault his ability to find space tonight, causing havoc for the Genoa defence with his runs (as we so often see).

Hernandez (5.5): It might sound like a harsh rating, seeing as there was hard work from him tonight, but you can’t help but think that he could have done better. He was very sloppy in defence at times, with Maignan having to bail him out once, and he squandered some good opportunities (especially one) in attack.

Loftus-Cheek (6): He started the game as a right-winger of sorts and actually had some very nice plays, involved in Milan’s first big chance of the game. He wasn’t as effective when he had to drop down, but it’s also not his natural position so praise must be given. It was a good pass to start the move for the second goal, for example.

Jovic (5.5): Although we saw a couple of nice one-twos, as well as hold-up play, he struggled in the battle with the centre-backs for most of the game. As a result, he wasn’t really efficient for Milan and it showed when he was taken off.

Pulisic (5.5): The No.11 was so lively at the start of the game, especially when he played on the left, with more confidence on the ball (or so it seemed anyway). However, while he did well to bring the ball into his stride, he simply had to convert that big chance. If you don’t square it there, you have to score. He nearly scored an own-goal as well (even if that would have been unlucky).

Substitutes

Leao (6.5): It was a rather bizarre game from the winger because on the one hand, he struggled to make a difference in open play for most of his time on the pitch. Then, he was heavily involved in Milan’s two-minute turnaround with the equaliser and the cross for the own-goal. We have to demand more from him still, but we cannot ignore his importance tonight.

Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images

Gimenez (6): The goal against Venezia has seemingly boosted his confidence, because it was a nice run and cut-back on the equaliser. Some decent moments after that but nothing major.

Joao Felix (6.5): He entered the pitch with a lot of energy, starting with a great ball over the top for Gimenez which led to the first goal. Then, his run into the box forced Frendrup to get a foot on the ball, resulting in the own-goal. Yes, a couple of chances missed after that, but that’s after he created them himself.

Musah (N/A): We didn’t see enough to give him a rating.

Walker (N/A): We didn’t see enough to give him a rating.