Milan 2-2 Sassuolo Player Ratings: Davide Bartesaghi 9/10 Rated as Lauriente's Strike Earn a Draw for Neroverdi

A truly chaotic and entertaining encounter at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza saw Milan and Sassuolo share the spoils in a pulsating 2-2 draw. This Serie A clash was a rollercoaster from start to finish. Sassuolo stunned the home crowd early on. They grabbed the lead through a poacher's finish from Ismaël Koné. Milan looked a bit shell-shocked after conceding.

However, the Rossoneri found their hero in the most unlikely of sources. Davide Bartesaghi, playing out of his skin, first leveled the score before halftime with a composed finish. He wasn't done there. Shortly after the restart, he fired Milan into the lead with another fantastic strike. It felt like Milan might just run away with it at that point.

But Sassuolo showed incredible resilience. They refused to lie down and fought their way back into the match. Substitute Armand Laurienté became their hero, firing home a superb equalizer late in the game to silence the home fans. Both teams had chances to win it, but in the end, a draw felt like a fair, if breathless, result. Here are Sportsdunia's Milan vs Sassuolo player ratings.

Milan Player Ratings vs Sassuolo

Check out the Milan player ratings for the Milan vs Sassuolo fixture.

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan - 6.0: A strange day at the office for the captain. He conceded two goals, but we can't really fault him for either. Koné's goal was a close-range scramble, and the second was a pinpoint finish. He only had one other save to make the entire game. He commanded his box well enough but was largely a spectator otherwise. A quiet performance overall.

Defenders

Fikayo Tomori - 6.5: A very busy afternoon for Tomori. He made a massive six clearances and a couple of important interceptions. We noticed his positioning was generally solid against Sassuolo's attacks. However, he also seemed a little frantic at times. He was caught out once or twice, but his recovery pace often saved him. A decent, if imperfect, outing.

Strahinja Pavlović - 7.0: We were quite impressed with this guy. He was a rock at the back, winning all of his ground duels. His passing was crisp and accurate, helping build from the back. What stood out to us were his two blocked shots, which were crucial interventions. He looked very composed under pressure and was one of Milan's better defenders on the day.

Matteo Gabbia - 6.0: He was having a perfectly fine game before his unfortunate injury. His passing was nearly perfect, with a 96% accuracy rate. He won most of his duels and seemed comfortable. It was a real shame to see him forced off after 60 minutes. It's hard to give a full rating, but he did his job effectively while on the pitch.

Midfielders

Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 6.5: A real mixed bag from Ruben. He delivered a beautiful assist for the first goal, showing his quality in the final third. On the other hand, he missed a big chance himself and picked up a yellow card. He lost the ball a few too many times for our liking. You can see the talent is there, but the consistency just wasn't present in this match.

Luka Modrić - 7.5: The master was at it again. He was the conductor of Milan's orchestra, with over 100 passes and constant involvement. We noticed he was always available for the ball, dictating the tempo of the game. He didn't get a goal or assist, but his control and vision were essential to everything Milan did well. A truly classy performance from the veteran.

Adrien Rabiot - 5.0: From our perspective, this was a day to forget for Rabiot. He was largely invisible and struggled to impose himself on the game. He had an error that led to a shot and was caught offside. He recovered the ball well enough but offered very little going forward. A disappointing performance where he just couldn't get into the rhythm of the match.

Alexis Saelemaekers - 6.5: You can never fault his work rate. He was a bundle of energy down the flank, winning nine duels and making four tackles. The effort was immense. However, his final product was frustratingly poor, with several wayward crosses and shots. He got into great positions but the execution let him down.

Davide Bartesaghi - 9.0: What can you even say? An absolutely sensational, star-making performance. He scored two incredible goals from midfield, carrying his team on his back. Both finishes were clinical and showed immense composure. He won all of his duels and was a creative force throughout. The highest-rated player on the pitch by a mile and our clear man of the match.

Forwards

Christian Pulisic - 6.0: It was a quiet game for the American. He just couldn't seem to find the space to work his magic. He was neat on the ball but didn't create any major chances or get any shots on target. From our perspective, he seemed a bit isolated before being substituted. We expected more from him in a game like this.

Christopher Nkunku - 7.0: A very lively and intelligent performance. He provided a clever assist for Bartesaghi's second goal. He always looked like Milan's sharpest tool in the attack. He took a couple of shots and was a constant nuisance for the Sassuolo defence. A very promising display that showed his quality.

Substitutes

Koni De Winter - N/A: Came on for the injured Gabbia but didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.

Samuele Ricci - N/A: Replaced Pulisic but wasn't on long enough to warrant a rating.

Pervis Estupiñán - N/A: A late cameo in stoppage time.

Zachary Athekame - N/A: A late cameo in stoppage time.

Manager

M. Allegri - 6.5: His team showed good character to come from behind and take the lead. However, he will be disappointed they couldn't hold on for the win. His substitutions didn't really change the flow of the game in Milan's favour. A frustrating day where his side dropped two points from a winning position.

Sassuolo Player Ratings vs Milan

Check out the Sassuolo player ratings for the Milan vs Sassuolo fixture.

Goalkeeper

Arijanet Murić - 6.5: It's hard to blame him for the two goals he conceded; they were fantastic strikes. He made a crucial save to deny Nkunku and was very proactive in claiming high balls. His distribution was a bit hit-or-miss. Overall, he put in a solid shift and kept his team in the game with a couple of key stops.

Defenders

Fali Candé - 6.0: A steady performance at the back. He won his tackles and didn't make any glaring errors before being substituted around the hour mark. He did his defensive duties without any fuss. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Sebastian Walukiewicz - 6.5: He had his hands full with Milan's attack. We noticed he was in the right place at the right time to make some important blocks. He struggled a bit in his one-on-one duels. But he created a chance at the other end, showing his versatility. A battling performance.

Jay Idzes - 6.5: A composed figure in the Sassuolo backline. He made an impressive five clearances and three interceptions. What stood out to us was how calm he was on the ball, even under pressure from the Milan forwards. He was dribbled past once, but it was a solid defensive display overall.

Tarik Muharemović - 6.0: He was a clearance machine, racking up eight throughout the game. That shows how much pressure Sassuolo were under. However, he also picked up a booking and looked a bit rash in the challenge at times. A committed but sometimes reckless performance.

Midfielders

Nemanja Matic - 7.0: The captain led by example in the heart of midfield. He was a ball-winning machine, with 10 recoveries. He shielded his defence effectively and distributed the ball simply but smartly. His experience was vital in such a chaotic game. He provided the stability that allowed his more attacking teammates to flourish.

Kristian Thorstvedt - 6.0: A game full of effort but lacking in quality. He got a shot on target and made some clearances. But he also lost the ball a lot and conceded a couple of cheap fouls, earning a yellow card. He worked hard for the team, but it just wasn't his day in terms of execution.

Ismaël Koné - 7.5: A fantastic performance from the midfielder. He was in the right place to stab home the opening goal. He was a constant thorn in Milan's side, drawing four fouls and driving forward with the ball. He never stopped working and his goal set the tone for his team's resilient performance.

Forwards

Cristian Volpato - 5.5: We were a bit disappointed with his contribution. He struggled to get involved in the game in any meaningful way. He lost possession 15 times which is just too high. He has talent, but he was unable to showcase it here and was a passenger for large periods.

Alieu Fadera - 6.0: A very energetic and aggressive performance. He won a good number of his duels and made three tackles from the front. His enthusiasm sometimes boiled over, leading to a yellow card and three fouls conceded. A raw but promising display before he was subbed off.

Andrea Pinamonti - 8.0: He didn't score, but from our perspective, he was Sassuolo's most influential attacker. He provided two brilliant assists, creating two big chances for his team. His hold-up play was excellent, and he was a constant handful for the Milan defence. A superb creative performance that was pivotal to his team getting a point.

Substitutes

Armand Laurienté - 7.5: What an impact. Came off the bench and scored the crucial equalizing goal with a fantastic finish. He completely changed the game and rescued a point for his team.

Josh Doig - 6.0: Came on and provided fresh legs at the back, helping to see out the draw.

Luca Moro - N/A: A late substitute with not enough time to make an impact.

Walid Cheddira - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Davide Bartesaghi