Football: AC Milan begins its championship with a victory, Inter is scared - US Sports

AC Milan, reigning Italian champions, launched the defense of their crown perfectly by dominating Udinese (4-2) at home, on Saturday at the start of the 2022/23 Serie A season, thanks in particular to a lined with Ante Rebic. If the Rossoneri sometimes still seemed on vacation when defending, they showed the competition, and in particular Inter on the pitch in the evening, that they had lost none of their enthusiasm and their will to tackle.

Theo Hernandez put the Rossoneri back on track by equalizing from the penalty spot (12th) after the surprise opener from the Frioul players on a header from Rodrigo Becao from a corner (2nd). In a complete San Siro for this summer resumption, Ante Rebic struck for the first time to put Milan back in front (15th), but without knocking out Udinese, who returned just before the break thanks to a diving header from Adam Masina (45th). +4e). The same Masina, however, betrayed his people from the start, with an approximate intervention on a cross from Hernandez which offered the third Milan goal to Brahim Diaz (46th). And it was again Rebic who definitively relieved San Siro (68th), before giving way to Olivier Giroud, who left the bench after muscle discomfort during the week.

Rookies Charles De Ketelaere and Divock Origi were also able to taste the San Siro atmosphere late in the game. Like Rebic, Milan showed great legs and the desire to project themselves without saving money, in the wake of the end of last season crowned with the club’s 19th Scudetto.

Arrows came as often from the left, thanks to an already sharp Théo Hernandez, but also from the right with captain Davide Calabria, behind the penalty at the start of the match (after intervention by the VAR) and passer on the second goal. But when it came to defending Mike Maignan’s goal, the Rossoneri – Serie A’s best defense last season with Napoli – were less lively. Like the loose markings of Rebic and Junior Messias on the two goals conceded.

Atalanta, next opponent of AC Milan, also started victoriously on the lawn of Sampdoria (2-0). Italian international defender Rafael Toloi (26th) and neo-Bergamasque Ademola Lookman – who arrived from RB Leipzig – at the end of the match (90 + 5th) ensured this precious inaugural success despite some scares (two amounts affected by Samp). Remo Freuler did not take part in the match. Leaving for Nottingham Forrest, the Swiss international midfielder was not called up by Gian Piero Gasperini and, barring a turnaround, should no longer reappear in the Atalanta jersey.

In the evening, Inter Milan got scared at promoted Lecce but snatched the victory in extremis in added time (2-1) thanks to Denzel Dumfries, after quickly opening the scoring by the returning Romelu Lukaku. This draw allows the Nerazzurri to start on the right foot, like their Milanese neighbors.

The hungry Lukaku, determined to show that he has lost none of his efficiency after a suffering season at Chelsea, led the way by opening the scoring with a header after less than 90 seconds of play.

But for having wanted to manage too much, the Nerazzurri were surprised at the start of the second half by the equalizer of the 2022 Serie B champion, on a cross shot from Assan Ceesay (48th). The former FC Zurich striker scored his very first goal there in his new colors.

A complicated quarter of an hour followed for the vice-champions of Italy, saved from the correctional by a fine save on a free kick from their goalkeeper and captain Samir Handanovic (60th). And the final forcing ended up paying: Dumfries, after finding the post a little earlier (69th), put on his savior clothes to spring up at the far post and score the winning goal from a corner kick from Nicolo Barella (90th). +5).

Monza, for its debut in the top flight, lost at home to Ricardo Rodriguez’s Torino (1-2) under the eyes of its owner present at the stadium, Silvio Berlusconi.