Newly promoted Sampdoria delivered a message for AC Milan and it wasn’t a good one. Christian Abbiati could not move a muscle as Andrea Costa powered in his header to give Sampdoria the winner. In another disturbing sign, the San Siro was half empty as the fans stayed away, disillusioned by the club’s failure to sign quality replacements for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. The club’s new signings Giampaolo Pazzini and Christian Zapata haven’t inspired the faithful.
Milan came close when Mario Yepes thought he had a goal when his powerful header nearly beat Sergio Romero but the Argentinian goalie flung himself acrobatically to make a finger tip deflection as the ball came off the post and back to him for a spectacular save. Kevin Prince Boateng also came, oh so very close, as his wickedly swerving shot would have beaten Romero but unfortunately the ball hit the upright.
This maybe a long season for Milan as they appear a bit lightweight in front. The back four seem cobbled together with veterans Daniele Bonera and Mario Yepes, entering their third decade with the Colombian hitting 36 years of age, holding the centre. On the other end of the spectrum, Mattia De Sciglio, all of 20 years was making his fourth appearance as right back while Luca Antonini, his counterpart on the left flank, has a history of costly blunders.