Sassuolo 1-1 AC Milan: Amorim's side hold on to protect unbeaten start

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ShareAC Milan are one of just four teams still yet to lose in Serie A this season, though Sassuolo certainly put that record under pressure.AC Milan remain unbeaten across their first six games in Serie A this season, but had to hold onto a point in a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo at MAPEI Stadium.Adrien Rabiot put Ruben Amorim's side in front just after the hour with a brilliant strike, but Cas Odenthal swiftly cancelled it out to share the spoils.The game took some time to spark into life, with Darryl Bakola blazing a long-range effort over early on before Vasilije Adzic and Armand Lauriente also failed to hit the target for Sassuolo.Rabiot glanced a header clear of the crossbar after the half-hour mark, but Milan turned up the pressure during the nine minutes of first-half stoppage time.Diego Moreira improvised a volley under pressure, which Arijanet Muric pushed away, and the goalkeeper also smothered Strahinja Pavlovic's far-post header.Milan saw a penalty shout waved away after Duje Caleta-Car appeared to drag down Goncalo Ramos, who then curled a speculative effort wide from the left.However, it was Luka Modric's half-time introduction that helped turn the tide as he linked up a lovely Milan move before threading it into Rabiot, who rifled in a tight-angled effort from the left of the box in the 63rd minute.Sassuolo responded well, with Mike Maignan making a double save to keep out Kieron Bowie and Kristian Thorstvedt, who will feel he should have done better with his backheel flick.But Odenthal restored parity five minutes later, squeezing his poked shot through the crowded box from a corner.Sassuolo then thought they had found an 88th-minute winner when Thorstvedt fired in from close range, but the referee's whistle had already gone after Ramos went down under a challenge from Bowie.Milan force to dig deep to take pointWhile the first half was a slow burn, the second finished with a high tempo, with Maignan having to be at full stretch to deny Thorstvedt and ensure Milan left with a point.The first shot on target did not come until the 43rd minute, courtesy of Ramos, but both sides eventually finished with 11 shots apiece, while Sassuolo only just narrowly edged the expected goals (xG) battle 1.2 to 1.17.Rabiot is now Milan's joint-top scorer this season with three goals. Only Roma's Donyell Malen (six) has registered more goal involvements than the Frenchman (five – three goals, two assists) in Serie A this season.But Milan were never safe when Alberto Aquilani turned to his bench. Sassuolo have now scored five goals via substitutes, while Milan have conceded three goals from players that have entered the fray off the bench.While Amorim would have wanted to walk away with a win, the point keeps Milan in the mix at the top with 12 points, though they have now drawn three of their last four league games.AC Milan are one of just four teams still yet to lose in Serie A this season, though Sassuolo certainly put that record under pressure.AC Milan remain unbeaten across their first six games in Serie A this season, but had to hold onto a point in a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo at MAPEI Stadium.Adrien Rabiot put Ruben Amorim's side in front just after the hour with a brilliant strike, but Cas Odenthal swiftly cancelled it out to share the spoils.The game took some time to spark into life, with Darryl Bakola blazing a long-range effort over early on before Vasilije Adzic and Armand Lauriente also failed to hit the target for Sassuolo.Rabiot glanced a header clear of the crossbar after the half-hour mark, but Milan turned up the pressure during the nine minutes of first-half stoppage time.Diego Moreira improvised a volley under pressure, which Arijanet Muric pushed away, and the goalkeeper also smothered Strahinja Pavlovic's far-post header.Milan saw a penalty shout waved away after Duje Caleta-Car appeared to drag down Goncalo Ramos, who then curled a speculative effort wide from the left.However, it was Luka Modric's half-time introduction that helped turn the tide as he linked up a lovely Milan move before threading it into Rabiot, who rifled in a tight-angled effort from the left of the box in the 63rd minute.Sassuolo responded well, with Mike Maignan making a double save to keep out Kieron Bowie and Kristian Thorstvedt, who will feel he should have done better with his backheel flick.But Odenthal restored parity five minutes later, squeezing his poked shot through the crowded box from a corner.Sassuolo then thought they had found an 88th-minute winner when Thorstvedt fired in from close range, but the referee's whistle had already gone after Ramos went down under a challenge from Bowie.Milan force to dig deep to take pointWhile the first half was a slow burn, the second finished with a high tempo, with Maignan having to be at full stretch to deny Thorstvedt and ensure Milan left with a point.The first shot on target did not come until the 43rd minute, courtesy of Ramos, but both sides eventually finished with 11 shots apiece, while Sassuolo only just narrowly edged the expected goals (xG) battle 1.2 to 1.17.Rabiot is now Milan's joint-top scorer this season with three goals. Only Roma's Donyell Malen (six) has registered more goal involvements than the Frenchman (five – three goals, two assists) in Serie A this season.But Milan were never safe when Alberto Aquilani turned to his bench. Sassuolo have now scored five goals via substitutes, while Milan have conceded three goals from players that have entered the fray off the bench.While Amorim would have wanted to walk away with a win, the point keeps Milan in the mix at the top with 12 points, though they have now drawn three of their last four league games.