Milan's Unbeaten Start Hides a Midfield Question at Sassuolo

Adrien Rabiot put Milan ahead in the 63rd minute, only for Cas Odenthal to equalise five minutes later. The result leaves Milan fifth in the standings with three wins and three draws from six league games, while Sassuolo have eight points from six matches.

Possession finished 59-41 in Milan's favour, and they led on shots (11-10), shots on target (6-4), big chances (3-2) and corners (5-3). Yet expected goals were almost identical: Milan 1.17, Sassuolo 1.16.

Sassuolo, for their part, arrived with seven points from five games and were looking to respond after a 2-1 defeat away at Monza before the international break. They now have eight from six.

Matteo Gabbia, handed his first start, was forced off with an injury in the first half, and Sassuolo's Fedde Leysen also had to come off early. Milan have already lost Alexis Saelemaekers for several months to ankle surgery. Luka Modric was rested for this fixture, with Diego Moreira and Christian Pulisic lining up behind Gonçalo Ramos.

Amorim changed to a back four and re-introduced Moreira to the starting XI. Arijanet Muric made several saves, and Milan had chances through Ramos and Moreira, but the visitors could not restore their lead.

Milan's summer departures included Ismaël Bennacer, Tommaso Pobega, Youssouf Fofana, Samuele Ricci, Santiago Giménez and Rafael Leão. The arrivals — Sankhoun Diawara, Mario Gila, Gonçalo Ramos, Andrej Kostić, Alphadjo Cissè and Omari Hutchinson — have reshaped the group.

Milan's league record before this match read: a 2-0 win over Venezia, draws with Juventus and Lazio, a 3-0 win over Lecce, and now this draw at Sassuolo. The Europa League defeat to Benfica sits apart from that league run and should be kept apart.