Sassuolo 1-1 Milan: Not enough for Rabiot to celebrate

Adrien Rabiot’s rocket was cancelled out by Cas Odenthal, as Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Sassuolo, with Matteo Gabbia stretchered off in tears.

The Rossoneri went into the break for international duty with a successful change of tactics to the four-man defence in a 3-0 victory over Lecce, but lost Alexis Saelemaekers for several months to ankle surgery. Luka Modric was rested and Matteo Gabbia given his first start , as Diego Moreira and Christian Pulisic lined up behind Goncalo Ramos.

The Neroverdi followed their thrilling 3-2 win over Juventus with a shock defeat to Monza, as injuries piled up for Cristian Volpato, Jay Idzes, Sebastian Walukiewicz, Ismael Koné, Daniel Boloca and Edoardo Pieragnolo.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – OCTOBER 11: Ruben Amorim Head Coach of AC Milan and Alberto Aquilani Head Coach of US Sassuolo greet each other during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on October 11, 2026 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) It was the first start of the season for Gabbia, and might be his last appearance for a while, because the defender went in at full stretch as Armand Laurienté sprinted away and seemed to hyper-extend, suffering a bad left thigh strain. He was unable even to stand and had to be stretchered off in tears, making way for Koni De Winter.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – OCTOBER 11: Matteo Gabbia of AC Milan lies on the ground injured during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on October 11, 2026 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) Play had barely resumed when it stopped again, this time for Fedde Leysen to hobble off having badly sprained his knee, replaced by Cas Odenthal.

The first real chance came on 32 minutes, when Adrien Rabiot nodded the Diego Moreira free kick over the bar.

They had a double opportunity just before the break, as first Diego Moreira stung Arijanet Muric’s gloves at the near post, then Goncalo Ramos saw his header palmed over from a Samuel Chukwueze cross.

Moreira forced another parry from Muric after turning between two to get the shot away from 12 yards, then the goalkeeper denied a Strahinja Pavlovic header at the back post.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – OCTOBER 11: Diego Moreira of AC Milan competes for the ball with Vasilije Adzic of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on October 11, 2026 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) Luka Modric replaced booked Estupinan for the second half, moving Moreira to full-back. Vasilije Adzic completed a give and go with Domenico Berardi to draw a save out of Mike Maignan, while Josh Doig volleyed the Berardi cross over the bar.

Milan broke the deadlock when Rabiot sprung the offside trap on a Modric through ball and surprised Muric with a ferocious strike into the roof of the net at the near top corner, though the Sassuolo goalkeeper should not have been beaten from that angle.

The hosts threatened moments later, Maignan making a tough save on Kieron Bowie, then smothering the Kristian Thorstvedt follow-up flick.

Sassuolo equalised when an Armand Laurienté corner was flicked on and Cas Odenthal poked in from seven yards through a sea of legs.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – OCTOBER 11: Cas Odenthal of US Sassuolo 1c during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on October 11, 2026 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) It was suddenly wide open, Muric rushing out to stop Samuel Chukwueze meeting the Pulisic through ball, while substitute Alphadjo Cisse’s curler was palmed away.

Sassuolo had the ball in the net on 88 minutes when Thorstvedt fired in the loose ball from five yards, but the whistle had already gone for the Bowie push on Ramos.

The hosts had the last chance of the game, Maignan plucking the Thorstvedt strike out from under the crossbar.

Sassuolo 1-1 Milan Rabiot 63 (M), Odenthal 68 (S)

11-10-2026 17:00

MatchDay 6

Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore

Sassuolo

Milan

1 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

41'

Pervis Estupiñán

45+3'

Koni De Winter

2nd half

63'

Adrien Rabiot (Assist: Luka Modric)

Cas Odenthal

68'

87'

Gonçalo Ramos

Kristian Thorstvedt

90+4'

90+1'

Strahinja Pavlovic

Match statistic

41

Possession %

59

11

Total shots

11

4

Shots on target

6

5

Shots off target

2

2

Blocked shots

3

3

Corners

5

1

Offsides

13

Fouls

11

Sassuolo

Milan

Starting lineups

49

Arijanet Muric Goalkeeper

15

Duje Caleta-Car Defender

16

Fedde Leysen Defender

26'

20

Ignace Van Der Brempt Defender

79'

3

Josh Doig Defender

50

Darryl Bakola Midfielder

18

Nemanja Matic Midfielder

79'

17

Vasilije Adžić Midfielder

60'

45

Armand Lauriente Attacker

10

Domenico Berardi Attacker

94

Sebastiano Esposito Attacker

60'

16

Mike Maignan Goalkeeper

34

Mario Gila Defender

46

Matteo Gabbia Defender

20'

2

Pervis Estupiñán Defender

46'

31

Strahinja Pavlovic Defender

12

Adrien Rabiot Midfielder

80

Yunus Musah Midfielder

78'

11

Christian Pulisic Attacker

78'

22

Diego Moreira Attacker

9

Gonçalo Ramos Attacker

21

Samuel Chukwueze Attacker

85'

Substitutes

7

Cristian Volpato Midfielder

6

Sebastian Walukiewicz Defender

12

Giacomo Satalino Goalkeeper

80

Stefano Turati Goalkeeper

8

Andrea Ghion Defender

5

Fali Candé Defender

55

Ibrahim Sulemana Midfielder

25

Benja Domínguez Attacker

19

Laurs Skjellerup Attacker

33

Rafa Obrador Defender

26

Cas Odenthal Defender

26'

42

Kristian Thorstvedt Midfielder

60'

9

Kieron Bowie Attacker

60'

35

Luca Lipani Midfielder

79'

46

Simone Cinquegrano Defender

79'

23

Fikayo Tomori Defender

42

Filippo Terracciano Midfielder

8

Ruben Loftus-Cheek Midfielder

33

Davide Bartesaghi Defender

73

Francesco Camarda Attacker

96

Lorenzo Torriani Goalkeeper

28

Christian Comotto Midfielder

13

Sankhoun Diawara Defender

41

Leo Paul Bouyer Goalkeeper

5

Koni De Winter Defender

20'

14

Luka Modric Midfielder

46'

30

Ardon Jashari Midfielder

78'

70

Alphadjo Cissè Attacker

78'

Omari Hutchinson Midfielder

85'