Berardi strike earns Sassuolo surprise victory against 10-man AC Milan propelling them into Serie A upper table

Although AC Milans ambitious championship aspirations were officially dashed, they still required confirmation of their spot in the forthcoming UEFA Champions League. Nevertheless, Sassuolo burst into action from the outset, catching the opponents off guard by scoring first within the opening five minutes.

A superb sequence of passes ended with Armand Lauriente spotting Domenico Berardi unmarked in the penalty area, and the Sassuolo icon slotted the ball neatly into the distant corner with a precise low shot.

Massimiliano Allegris team appeared sluggish during the initial phase, and the situation deteriorated further for the Rossoneri when Fikayo Tomori received a red card in the 24th minute after accumulating two bookings. Each caution stemmed from rash and awkward tackles, encapsulating a dismal opening period for the visitors who failed to register any efforts on goal.

Sassuolo mirrored their energetic beginning right after the break, swiftly adding to their tally as the ball hit the net just 120 seconds into the second half.

The away team faltered defensively, leading to a loss of possession that enabled Luca Lipani to deliver the ball to Lauriente on the left wing, and after an excellent exchange with Kristian Thorstvedt, he curled his effort into the net off the post.

Milan, who had now allowed multiple goals for the first time in 11 league away fixtures, continued to struggle. Stefano Turati had not been tested with an hour elapsed, prompting Allegri to introduce several changes. However, their subpar display persisted, permitting Fabio Grossos squad to secure a comfortable third triumph in their last five domestic outings.

This unexpectedly straightforward result lifts Sassuolo into the tables upper section, as they target a third placement inside the top eight over seven campaigns. In contrast, Milan must regroup swiftly to avoid slipping from the top four, especially with Juventus poised to equal their points tonight, while both Como and Roma close in on the Rossoneri.