AC Milan delivered a commanding performance to secure a 6-1 victory over Serie B side Sassuolo in their Coppa Italia Round of 16 clash at San Siro, advancing to the quarter-finals. The match, held on Tuesday, saw Samuel Chukwueze shine brightly, scoring twice and playing a key role in Milan's dominant display.
Milan wasted no time in asserting their dominance. By the 23rd minute, they had already built an overwhelming 4-0 lead, with goals coming from Chukwueze, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rafael Leao. Chukwueze opened the scoring in the 12th minute, following a perfectly timed pass from Reijnders that put him in a one-on-one situation with Sassuolo goalkeeper Giacomo Satalino. Although his initial shot struck the post, Chukwueze reacted quickly to convert the rebound into the back of the net.
Just five minutes later, Reijnders extended Milan's lead with a powerful strike from outside the box that beat Satalino and found the bottom corner. Chukwueze then doubled his tally in the 21st minute, finishing off a delightful pass from Tammy Abraham with a curling shot beyond Satalino’s reach.
Two minutes later, Milan struck again, as Ruben Loftus-Cheek delivered a clever no-look pass to set up Leao, who slotted the ball home with ease. The relentless pressure continued into the second half, with Christian Pulisic's cross striking the post before Calabria pounced on the rebound to score Milan's fifth goal early in the second half.
Sassuolo managed to pull one back in the 50th minute through Samuele Mulattieri, whose shot slipped past Milan's goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani, offering a brief moment of consolation. However, the hosts quickly regained control, with Abraham rounding off the scoreline in the 61st minute, sealing Milan’s comprehensive victory with a well-executed finish.
While the 6-1 scoreline suggested complete dominance from Milan, the underlying statistics told a different story. Despite scoring six goals, Milan’s expected goals (xG) figure stood at just 1.89 from a total of 15 shots, highlighting their clinical finishing rather than overwhelming chances. Sassuolo struggled to contain Milan's attacking firepower, with the home side taking full advantage of their opportunities.
The match was a statement performance from Milan, who displayed their attacking prowess and ruthless finishing in a comprehensive victory. As they move on to the quarter-finals, their emphatic win over Sassuolo sets them up as a formidable force in this season's Coppa Italia campaign.
