Gennaro Gattuso can breathe a little easier after AC Milan got back to winning ways as Gonzalo Higuain ended his goal drought against SPAL.
2018/2019 Serie A
2-1
Match Events
13' GOAL! Milan 0-1 SPAL (Petagna)
GOOOAAALLL!!! MILAN 0-1 SPAL! A brilliant finish from Petagna gives the visitors a surprise lead at San Siro. Petagna takes a touch to control the ball on the edge of the box, spins and sends a low shot spinning out of Donnarumma's reach via a deflection off Romagnoli.
16' GOAL! Milan 1-1 SPAL (Castillejo)
GOOOAAALLL!!! MILAN 1-1 SPAL! An instant response from the home side, with Castillejo arrowing the ball into the top corner following a couple of defensive errors from Leonardo Semplici's charges. Costa in particular is at fault for that goal, firing the ball to the other side of the penalty area, where Castillejo was well positioned to pounce with his half-volley.
35' CHANCE! Bakayoko's shot over the bar
64' GOAL! Milan 2-1 SPAL (Higuain)
GOOOAAAALLLL!!! MILAN 2-1 SPAL! The goal drought is over for Higuain! The Argentina striker does brilliantly to control Calhanoglu's pass in front of goal, taking Felipe out of the equation with his first touch and then smashing the ball into the back of the net from six yards.
89' Second Yellow Card! Suso sent off
Milan will finish the match with 10 players. Suso, who was booked for dissent a little earlier, goes in late on Valdifiori and is shown his second yellow.
Match Report
Gonzalo Higuain scored for the first time in 10 matches as AC Milan ended their winless run by beating SPAL 2-1 in Serie A to ease the pressure on coach Gennaro Gattuso.
There had been reports in Italy that Gattuso could be sacked if Milan failed to gain a positive result against SPAL, having overseen a run of five games without a win in all competitions.
SPAL appeared to have a chance of extending that streak to six when former Rossoneri academy product Andrea Petagna put them ahead.
However, Samu Castillejo levelled in style before Higuain finally found the net and completed the turnaround for Milan, who, despite losing Suso to a late red card, moved into fifth, a point behind fourth-placed Lazio in the race to secure Champions League football.
Player Ratings
Line-ups
Milan XI: C. Zapata, G. Higuaín, Abate, R. Rodríguez, Calhanoglu, Bakayoko, Castillejo, Suso, Romagnoli, Kessié, G. Donnarumma
Subs: Pepe Reina, Montolivo, Musacchio, Borini, Bertolacci, A. Donnarumma, Conti, D. Laxalt, Mauri, Calabria, Cutrone, F. Tsadjout
SPAL XI: Missiroli, Felipe, T. Cionek, Schiattarella, Antenucci, J. Kurtič, A. Gomis, F.Costa, Andrea Petagna, Bonifazi, L. Dickmann
Subs: Floccari, Paloschi, Everton Luiz, Valdifiori, Valoti, Viviani, G. Poluzzi, Vicari, V. Savić, G. Moncini, Fares, L. Šimić