The hosts push forward on what will surely be their final attacking move of the game. Montolivo is eventually able to swing a deep cross into the heart of the box, where it finds Antonelli, but the defender's looping header is easily cut out by Belec before it can find Balotelli. That must surely be that for Milan, who have been really poor this evening.
90' +3
Milan are swarming forward as they desperately try to find a late goal that would surely result in them coming away with all three points. However, Carpi have just as many bodies back defending diligently and are continuing to constantly frustrate the hosts, who are quickly running out of ideas.
90' +1
Fingertip save by Donnarumma! Crimi twists and turns on the edge of the Milan penalty area before unleashing a wonderful curling shot towards the top left-hand corner of the net, but the young goalkeeper is there to tip the ball over the top of the crossbar with an acrobatic stop. What a goal that would have been!
90'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be five minutes of added time.
89'
L. Lollo enters the game and replaces Raphael Martinho.
Carpi have made a late change, with Martinho making way for Lollo for the final few minutes.
88'
M. Locatelli enters the game and replaces A. Poli.
Double save by Belec! After spending what feels like an age eyeing up his target, Balotelli finally steps up and unleashes a shot that deflects off the wall of Carpi players camped in front of him. The ball flies over to Antonelli, however, and the full-back is able to force the goalkeeper into making a good diving save. Alex is then there to blast a follow-up towards goal, but once again the Slovenian does well to deny him with a strong stop.
87'
Before the free-kick can be taken, youngster Locatelli comes on to replace Poli and make his first team debut.
86'
E. Suagher gets yellow.
Carpi have a great chance to hit Milan on the counter as they go three-on-two deep inside the hosts' half of the pitch, but they completely fluff their lines and end up losing the ball just outside of the penalty area. The home side then break forward through Antonelli, who is fouled by Suagher and wins his side a free-kick in a dangerous position 20 yards away from the visitors' goal.
85'
Carpi do well to deal with the danger from the corner before breaking down the left flank on a quick counter. Mbakogu charges forward and cuts into the penalty area before unleashing a low shot, but it's deflected away from goal and back out to the wing. Letizia does well to come back again, however, and curls a cross into the middle of the box, but Lasagna ends up fouling Antonelli and concedes a free-kick as a result.
83'
Montolivo makes a great run towards the Carpi penalty area before poking a great pass through the visitors' defence and into the path of Poli. The midfielder immediately fires a cross towards Menez that seems to hit the outstretched hand of Suagher, but the referee shakes his head at the Milan players' protestations and instead awards them a corner.
Minute
Description
81'
Mauri has arguably been one of Milan's best player since coming on to the pitch, with his pace and skill causing Carpi a few problems. He breaks towards the penalty area before playing a lovely one-two with Balotelli on the edge of the box, but just as he's about to shoot he's dispossessed by a vital interception from Simone Romagnoli.
79'
L. Pasciuti enters the game and replaces S. Sabelli.
Carpi have made their second substitution of the night, with Pasciuti coming on to replace Sabelli for the final 10 minutes of the game.
77'
Play resumes once again and Milan immediately charge forward. Once again, they can't find a way into the Carpi penalty area and are forced into shooting from distance, but Mauri's audacious strike from 25 yards out ends up sailing comfortably over the crossbar and out for a goal-kick.
75'
Lasagna looks to be really struggling after clashing with Alex on the edge of the Milan penalty area. Both players went for the ball but came together in the air, leaving the striker in a heap on the floor and with what looks like a dislocated shoulder.
73'
Chance for Mauri! Abate does well to charge down the right wing before curling a dangerous cross into the middle of the Carpi penalty area, where it finds the youngster. He rises high and meets the ball before sending it towards the bottom right-hand corner of the net, but his headed effort ends up bouncing just a yard or so wide of its intended target.
71'
Milan patiently pass the ball around deep inside the Carpi half of the pitch, but they are still struggling to turn their possession into chances on goal. Bonaventura then picks up the ball in a pocket of space before slotting a pass towards Antonelli, but there's slightly too much power on it and, as a result, the left-back is unable to keep it in play.
69'
J. Ménez enters the game and replaces C. Bacca.
Bacca reacts angrily to being substituted, and he stomps off the pitch to be replaced by Menez for the final 20 minutes of the game.
68'
Balotelli weaves his way along the edge of the Carpi penalty area as he tries to find a pocket of space to operate it. He's finally able to do so after skipping past Crimi, but his thumping shot fails to beat the sea of white shirts camped diligently in front of him.
67'
Alex gets yellow.
66'
Mbakogu charges down the right flank and tries to beat Alex before being clattered in the face by the centre-back, who tries to protest his innocence but leaves the referee with no choice but to show him a yellow card.
64'
Mauri scores, but it's ruled out for offside! The ball bounces around the edge of the Carpi penalty area before falling into the feet of Bonventura, who then sends a lovely pass straight into the feet of the young substitute. He controls the ball well before spinning and beating Belec, but he's standing at least three yards offside and the linesman's flag is quickly raised as a result.
62'
Milan have made their first alteration of the evening, with Mauri coming on to take the place of Boateng, who has failed to make much of an impact tonight.
61'
J. Mauri enters the game and replaces K. Boateng.
So close from Letizia! The resulting corner initially fails to trouble Milan, but Carpi do well to quickly win back possession over on the left flank. The wing-back takes a quick touch before swinging a beautiful cross-cum-shot towards the far post, but it ends up bouncing narrowly wide of the goal and out for a goal-kick.
60'
Great play by Mbakogu! The Nigerian striker has seen far more of the ball since the start of the second half than he did in the first, and his strength is starting to cause problems for the Milan defence. He charges his way into the hosts' penalty area and is dispossessed by Alex before he can shoot, but he then out-muscles the centre-back and forces him into knocking the ball out for a corner.
58'
Chance for Lasagna! The substitute striker finds himself in a pocket of space just outside of the Milan penalty area and decides to try and cause Donnarumma with a low strike from 25 yards out, but it's slightly underhit and is easily stopped by the teenage goalkeeper in the middle of the goal.
57'
Milan quickly go up the other end of the pitch and try to take advantage of the space left behind by Carpi's marauding wing-backs, but Bonaventura is unable to curl his shot past Suagher, who stands firm just inside the visitors' penalty area and heads the effort away from danger before it's able to test Belec.
56'
A determined Milan attacking move breaks down, and Carpi immediately hit the hosts on the counter. Mbakogu charges down the left flank before poking a lovely through-ball into the left-hand side of the penalty area, but just as Letizia is about to shoot he's dispossessed by a vital interception by Alessio Romagnoli.
54'
K. Lasagna enters the game and replaces J. de Guzmán.
Carpi have made their first change of the game, with De Guzman, who was arguably their best player in the first half, making way for Lasagna.
52'
Chance for Balotelli! Abate charges down the right flank before firing a deep cross over to the far post, where it finds the on-loan striker. He rises high and lifts up a leg to meet the ball in front of goal, but he completely mishits his attempted cross-cum-shot and sends it looping over his head and out of the penalty area.
50'
The ball bounces around midway inside the Milan half of the pitch as Carpi battle hard for posession. De Guzman is finally able to pick it up just outside of the hosts' penalty area but, with his back to goal, is forced into playing it back towards Cofie, but his attempted pass is poor and is easily cut out by Montolivo.
48'
Carpi have enjoyed a bright start to the second half, and through De Guzman they have already created a few problems for the Milan back line. The Dutchman darts towards the hosts' penalty area before firing a low strike that deflects out for a corner, but Balotelli is back to deal with the set-piece with a strong header out of the box.
46'
And we're underway once again!
45' +3
M. Balotelli gets yellow.
Milan push forward on what will surely be their final attacking move of the half, and it proves to be one of their best ones. Boateng sprints into the right-hand side of the penalty area and heads towards the byline before cutting a low pass across goal, but it's cut out by Belec on the edge of the six-yard box. He's immediately clattered into by the outstretched foot of Balotelli, however, and the striker is quickly shown a yellow card by the referee, despite his protestations.
45' +2
Bonaventura breaks down the left wing on a determined run before chipping a dangerous cross into the middle of the box. It looks set to find Balotelli, who is in a good position in front of goal, but Suagher is there to thump the ball away from danger at the vital moment.
45'
M. Crimi gets yellow.
A half-hearted Carpi attacking move breaks down, and Milan immediately fly forward on a quick counter-attack. However, it's once again brought to an end by a cynical challenge from one of the visitors, and this time it's Crimi who becomes the latest player to be cautioned.
43'
What a chance for Alex! The resulting set-piece is curled into the heart of the Carpi box, where it finds the centre-back completely unmarked, but his bullet header ends up flying a few yards over the top of the crossbar. That was a great chance for the Brazilian to give the hosts a much-needed lead!
42'
Balotelli weaves his way through a sea of white shirts in the middle of the pitch before sending a lovely pass over to the right wing, where it finds Abate. The full-back is in a great position and breaks into the box before trying to whip a low cross-cum-shot towards goal, but Letizia is there to stick out a foot to send the ball out for a corner.
40'
Abate twists and turns deep down the right flank before finally being able to poke a through-ball into the path of Poli. The midfielder meets it well but is quickly closed down by Martinho, who dispossesses the Milan man before thumping the ball up towards the halfway line. The hosts are dominating possession at the moment but, as has been the case for the majority of the evening thus far, are failing to do much with it.
38'
Milan work the ball from one flank to the other as they try to find their way into the Carpi penalty area, but the visitors do well to block their path before forcing the ball out of play for a corner on the left wing. The cross from the set-piece is curled into the heart of the penalty area, but it's sent too near to Belec and, as a result, the goalkeeper is easily able to collect it.
36'
Balotelli twists and turns deep inside the Carpi half of the pitch before being clumsily fouled by Zaccardo, resulting in a free-kick for Milan in a dangerous position. The striker steps up and chips a deft chip into the middle of the box, but Suagher is there to deal with the immediate danger before the linesman's flag is raised for offside against Bacca.
34'
It just isn't working for Milan, who don't look as sharp as they did earlier in the game and are making life far too easy for Carpi with their slow attacking moves and audacious shots. This time it's Alessio Romagnoli who's guilty of doing the latter, as a speculative, long-range effort from him ends up flying comfortably wide of the goal, much to the annoyance of his manager.
32'
I. Cofie gets yellow.
The hosts try to hit Carpi on another counter-attack through the middle of the pitch, but this time it's brought to a premature, and painful, end by Cofie, who cynically trips Bonaventura to the ground near to the halfway line and receives a yellow card as a result.
31'
Carpi are starting to see a lot more of the ball now as Milan gradually back off and start sitting deeper. De Guzman, who has looked bright when in possession, twists and turns on the edge of the hosts' penalty area before trying to swing a cross towards Mbakogu, but, off balance, he can only slice the ball out for a goal-kick.
29'
Great defending by Suagher! After dealing with the danger, Milan try to hit Carpi on a blisteringly quick counter-attack through the middle of the pitch. Poli charges into the acres of space left in front of him before finding Bacca on the edge of he penalty area, but the aforementioned centre-back is there to dispossess the striker with a wonderful tackle.
28'
Carpi are finally able to break out of their own half of the pitch and embark on a decent attacking move. They work the ball around well before Crimi does well to muscle his way into the Milan penalty area. He's unable to get a shot away, however, and has to spin and find Sabelli, but the wing-back's attempted cross is poor and fails to beat Bonaventura on the edge of the box.
26'
Once again, Simone Romagnoli is in the right place at the right time to deal with another determined Milan attack. This time it's Bonaventura who cuts inside from the left wing and heads towards the box before trying to pick out Bacca, but the Carpi defender is there to cut out the danger with a vital interception deep inside the penalty area.
24'
Milan patiently pass the ball around inside the Carpi half of the pitch before Boateng cuts inside from the right wing on a marauding run. He then pokes a lovely through-ball into the penalty area and towards Bacca, but Simone Romagnoli is there to shepherd both the ball and the Colombian striker out of play.
22'
Bonaventura and Antonelli link up wonderfully well deep down the left wing before firing a dangerous low cross into the heart of the Carpi penalty area. It reaches Bacca, who then lets the ball run under his foot, before being cut out by Suagher. The defender immediately and clumsily gifts possession to Poli inside the box, but the midfielder is quickly closed down and is unable to take advantage of the mistake.
20'
After 20 minutes of being on the back foot, Carpi are finally presented with their first chance on goal as a result of a clumsy challenge on Mbakogu by Alessio Romagnoli down the right wing. De Guzman steps up and curls a cross into the middle of the box that is half dealt with by Balotelli, but the visitors' Nigerian striker is then able to swing the ball back into the penalty area. His attempted cross is completely mishit, however, and sails comfortably out of play for a goal-kick.
18'
Milan work the ball from one flank to the other as they try to break through the sea of white shirts camped in front of them. Poli is the first player to try and pick out a player with a looping cross that is far too deep, and Boateng then swings a poor attempted pass straight into the hands of Belec, who was comfortably able to collect the ball under no pressure whatsoever.
16'
Despite the pressure they are being put under, Carpi are largely doing well to keep Milan at bay whenever they swarm forward. Once again, they're just about able to deny the hosts the chance to have a shot on goal before trying to kick-start a counter, but Mbakogu quickly loses the ball and allows the home side to fly forward once more.
14'
Chance for Bacca! Milan are really causing problems for Carpi, who have barely been able to break out of their own half of the pitch. The hosts' full-backs are pinning back the visitors' wing-backs, which has meant that the home side always have plenty of bodies forward when needed. This time, Antontelli gets into a great position before working the ball over to the Colombian striker, who is in space just outside of the penalty area, and he takes a quick touch before unleashing a rocket of a strike that beats Belec before flying just over the top of the crossbar.
12'
After another determined Milan attacking move fails to result in a chance on goal, Carpi are able to push forward on a counter of their own down the right flank. Mbakogu charges down the wing before trying to pick out De Guzman with a swinging cross from the byline, but Alex is there to calmly and comfortably clear the danger at the near post.
10'
Lovely play by Milan! Once again, Poli gets inside from the right wing before linking quickly with Abate. The full-back weaves his way into the Carpi penalty area before linking up with Bacca, who then knocks the ball back to the right-midfielder, but his thumping low shot fails to beat the outstretched leg of Letizia.
8'
Milan move the ball around quickly midway inside the right flank before Poli cuts inside and tries to poke a through-ball into the path of Bacca, but Cofie is just about able to stop the pass from finding the striker with a vital interception just outside of the Carpi box. Letizia then charges down the left wing but has his blisteringly quick run ended by Abate, who gives away a free-kick as a result.
6'
Play resumes once again and Milan continue putting Carpi under plenty of early pressure. The visitors have plenty of players back but are unable to fully deal with the danger, which allows Boateng to pick up the ball in a pocket of space just outside of the penalty area. He takes a quick touch before rifling a curling shot towards goal, but Belec is just about able to tip away the Ghanaian's looping effort.
4'
The hosts continue dominating possession as they push forward once again, but quickly decide to kick the ball out of play after realising that Sabelli is down on the ground and really struggling with an injury. He seemed to receive a knock from Balotelli as they battled for the ball down the right wing, and he's eventually led off the pitch and over to the touchline to receive further treatment from the Carpi medical staff.
2'
Milan quickly break forward and put Carpi under plenty of early pressure. Bacca charges towards the visitors' penalty area on a great run before knocking the ball out to Antonelli, who then immediately curls a cross into the middle of the box, where Balotelli is waiting. It fails to find the striker, however, and De Guzman ends up winning possession before being fouled by Alex as he tries to kick-start a counter-attack.
1'
And we're off! Milan get us underway, attacking from left to right.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Serie A game between Milan and Carpi at San Siro.
After much speculation about his future, last Tuesday saw Sinisa Mihajlovic finally given his marching orders by the Milan bosses after failing to pick up a single win in five games, three of which ended in defeats. A 2-1 loss at home to league leaders Juventus proved to be the final nail in the Serbian’s coffin, and it left the Rossoneri in sixth place in the Serie A table, seven points behind Fiorentina and with just six games left to try and salvage what has been another underwhelming season. In his place came Cristian Brocchi, the former youth team coach who had never before tasted senior management. Despite this, the former midfielder’s first game in charge proved to be a success, with his side just about managing to narrowly beat Sampdoria 1-0 to pick up their first league win since the end of February. As a result, they will head into tonight’s clash against struggling Carpi confident about their chances of winning back-to-back Serie A games for only the second time this year, although the visitors’ impressive recent record should give them for concern.
A dismal run of just one win from nine league games left Carpi looking dead and buried before their home clash against Frosinone on March 13th, but a 2-1 victory proved to kick-start a minor revival for Fabrizio Castori’s side, who are fighting tooth and nail for a place in next season’s Serie A. Since then, the Biancorossi have won two of their four league clashes to give them a real chance of avoiding relegation, and they head into this evening’s game just one point outside of the drop zone but with a game in hand over all of the three teams below them. Last Saturday saw them come from a goal down to thrash Genoa, who were reduced to 10 men at the end of the first half, 4-1 in their biggest ever top-flight victory, setting them up perfectly for tonight’s big clash. Carpi are yet to beat Milan in either of their previous two meetings, but December’s league game at the Stadio Alberto Braglia ended in a goalless draw. Another result like that this evening would no doubt be welcomed by the club from Modena, but with such pressure currently being exerted on their opponents, they certainly have a good chance of picking up three much-needed points.
Carpi XI (3-5-1-1): Belec; Zaccardo, S. Romagnoli, Suagher; Sabelli, Crimi, Cofie, Martinho, Letizia; De Guzman; Mbakogu.
Milan substitutes: Lopez, De Sciglio, Mauri, Mexes, Menez, Honda, Ely, Zapata, Abbiati, Locatelli, Calabria, Vido.
Milan XI (4-4-2): Donnarumma; Abate, Alex, A. Romagnoli, Antonelli; Poli, Montolivo, Boateng, Bonaventura; Bacca, Balotelli.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…
Cristian Brocchi has decided to make two changes to the Milan side that started the 1-0 win against Sampdoria, with Andrea Poli and Kevin-Prince Boateng coming into the starting line-up to replace Andrea Bertolacci and Juraj Kucka.
Meanwhile, Carpi boss Fabrizio Castori has made six alterations to the side that thrashed Genoa on the weekend, with Fabrizio Poli, Riccardo Gagliolo, Lorenzo Pasciuti, Raffaele Bianco, Antonio Di Gaudio and Lorenzo Lollo making way for Cristian Zaccardo, Emanuele Suagher, Stefano Sabelli, Marco Crimi, Raphael Martinho and Jonathan De Guzman.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: MILAN 0-0 CARPI
Grumbles and groans echo around San Siro as the two players make their way off the pitch, and they won't be coming from Carpi fans. The visitors have done exactly what is needed and are currently on course for picking up a big point after making life extremely difficult for Milan with their compact and well-organised defending. However, the hosts haven't performed nearly as well as they need to and are lacking the urgency and fluidity needed to break down a stubborn back line. So far, Bacca and Balotelli have seen little of the ball in advanced positions, whilst Antonelli and Abate are too often sending their crosses straight to white shirts.
The two teams are making their way back out onto the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.
FULL-TIME: MILAN 0-0 CARPI
The referee blows his whistle for the final time and boos ring around San Siro. The home fans aren't at all happy with what they've seen this evening, and the players know it. Despite bossing possession and spending most of the game camped inside the Carpi half of the pitch, Milan just couldn't seem to do anything with the ball, and time and time again they looked bereft of ideas in front of goal. Brocchi's second-half substitutions didn't seem to help, and as a result his first home game in charge of the club ends in a disappointing and lacklustre goalless draw.
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