AC Milan 4-0 Venezia (Match Report)
How long does it take for a gray cloud to disperse after three disappointing games? AC Milan has the answer: 30 minutes. Even though Venezia is not the strongest opponent, for a team that only managed two points in the previous three games, a big victory means regaining confidence. And confidence is crucial before facing Liverpool and Inter Milan. Stefano Pioli can finally smile, as he achieved his first official win as the team's coach.
Milan's opening act was a comedy by Venezia. How did Milan break through the goal and secure a victory? It all started with two players. Theo Hernandez intercepted a pass from Kandziora, and Leao made a back-heeled pass over Shandong's defense. Theo then shot from a tight angle, leaving goalkeeper Joronen in a panic. Two weeks ago, when they played against Lazio, these two players came off the bench and quickly helped the team equalize. However, they subsequently had a public disagreement during injury time. Now, as the temperature in Milan has dropped, and the days of water breaks are over, the team needs to put their differences aside and turn a new leaf.
Venezia had experienced the power of Theo and Leao a few years ago. In the 2021-22 season, under Pioli, Milan defeated Venezia with their left-sided duo. In this match, Leao provided two assists, while Theo scored twice from open play and a penalty, helping Milan conquer the city of Venice with a 3-0 away victory. Returning to Serie A, Venezia seems to have not learned their lesson. Their defense does not meet the standards of a top-level league. Their center-back, Svoboda, is known for his recklessness, while the right center-back, Shandong, arrived from Belgium just before the transfer window closed. This match marked his Serie A debut—and he probably won't look back on this night with fond memories in the years to come.
The worst player on the Venezia side was their Finnish goalkeeper, Joronen. Last season, in Serie B, he and his compatriot, Poatyangparo, helped Venezia secure promotion. At the start of this season, he made impressive saves to earn a draw against Fiorentina. However, in this game, Joronen's performance was a disaster. After letting Theo's shot go in, he fouled Abraham in the penalty area, giving away the first penalty of the match. A few minutes later, Shandong committed a foul on Leao, resulting in another penalty. It was like a show put on by the Venice Film Festival, and they were the defensive stars.
As for Milan, their victory came effortlessly against a weak opponent. The fourth goal came in the 29th minute, and their last time scoring four goals in the first half of a league match was way back in 1958 against Alessandria. However, what was surprising was that Milan won two penalties, and their usual penalty taker, Theo, didn't step up. Maybe it was because he already satisfied his goal-scoring instincts with an early strike, or maybe he wanted to let his attacking teammates take the spotlight. Considering Calabria's contract situation and the impasse in renewing it, it's likely that Theo will become the team's captain next season. He needs to display leadership qualities, selflessness, and a sense of responsibility.
Abraham created a penalty that Prilepec calmly converted. This was, in fact, the first time "Captain America" had taken on this role in a first-team match. The last time he took a penalty in an official game was during his time in the Borussia Dortmund youth team. With all the regular starters on the field for Milan, the current penalty order should be Morata, Theo, and Prilepec. Selfless Abraham was rewarded shortly afterward when Leao gave him a gift. The English striker looked left but shot the ball to the right, scoring his first goal in his red and black career.
Fofana also celebrated his first goal. After 15 minutes, he received a corner assist from Prilepec, and initially, the goal was credited to Gabia. But eventually, the goal was given to the French midfielder. The recent international break wasn't great for Fofana. In the French national team's midfield, Roma's new signing, Camavinga, outshone him. Then, in the UEFA Nations League game against Italy, Fofana's pass was intercepted by Verratti, who initiated a counter-attack and scored. Back at the club level, Fofana delivered his best performance so far. He formed a partnership with Loftus-Cheek, with one providing a solid defensive shield, while the other roamed the entire field. Against Venezia, Milan's double-pivot midfield was too strong.
The international break also brought rewards. Wearing orange for the Netherlands, Reinders played as an attacking midfielder and scored against Bosnia and Germany in consecutive matches. He was in excellent form. Pioli chose to follow Koeman's idea by playing him just behind the striker. Although he didn't score or assist in this match, Reinders was heavily involved in the attacking play. Not long ago, Milan's sporting director, Boban, stated in an interview with Milan Sport that the only reasonable formation for AC Milan is a 4-3-3, with Loftus-Cheek and Reinders as the midfield duo. Pioli responded in his own way and showed another possibility.
After this match, Milan's coach can finally stand tall and look forward to the next two tough games. Pioli made it clear after the match that he understands the importance of the derby and is already starting to think about it. The firepower of Milan's forward line has been activated, giving them more leverage. However, concerns still exist: while this is Milan's first clean sheet in Serie A this season, their defense didn't look entirely stable between the first two goals. Three winless matches are not the end of the world, and a 4-0 victory doesn't mean everything is perfect. The upcoming week is still full of unknowns for the red and black world. The only thing that is certain is that if Milan can remain undefeated against Liverpool and Inter, Pioli will have successfully weathered the trust crisis.