Milan 2-2 Hellas Verona: Ibrahimovic salvages late point as the game ends with a tie

With a last-gasp draw against Hellas Verona at San Siro, Milan could only follow up on their midweek Europa League defeat to Lille.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic recovered from another missed penalty on Sunday to score in stop time and rescue Milan’s 2-2 draw against Hellas Verona.

Within 20 minutes, Antonin Barak and Mattia Zaccagni put Ivan Juric ‘s visitors 2-0 up before Giangiacomo Magnani’s own goal gave the hosts hope.

Ibrahimovic then struggled for the third time this season from 12 yards-his fourth miss in six attempts dating back to last term-and Davide Calabria had an effort ruled out after the Swede had controlled the build-up in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

It's not a win but what a fight-back!

Pari in rimonta a San Siro#MilanVerona #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/Z4oRnBlIM9

— AC Milan (@acmilan) November 8, 2020

Two minutes later, Milan’s talisman had the final say, however, heading home Brahim Diaz’s cross to steal a draw that takes the side of Stefano Pioli two points away from second-placed Sassuolo at the summit of Serie A.

After five minutes, Nikola Kalinic was denied from close range by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the Milan goalkeeper was powerless to prevent Verona from taking the lead from the resulting corner.

The header of Federico Ceccherini crashed back off the crossbar and Barak responded quickest from inside the six-yard box to prod over the line.

In the 19th minute, the visitors doubled their lead as Zaccagni’s volley reached the back of the net courtesy of Calabria’s sliced attempted clearance from the edge of the penalty area.

But Milan-beaten midweek by Lille in the Europa League-pulled back a goal eight minutes later when Franck Kessie’s flick from Alexis Saelemaeker ‘s cross was deflected by Magnani past Marco Silvestri.

The Rossoneri were given the chance to pull level as Matteo Lovato fouled Kessie inside the area moments after Silvestri’s superb 64th-minute stop from Theo Hernandez. However, Ibrahimovic struggled to convert from 12 yards, as against Inter and Sparta Prague earlier this season.

Until Calabria’s late effort was ruled out as his team-mate was deemed to have managed with his arm, the striker then thundered a powerful header against the post.

Yet Ibrahimovic had the last laugh, rising highest to nod in his campaign’s eighth league goal just when it seemed it wasn’t his day, with Diaz crossing after the 39-year-old had seen a well-saved shot on the turn.

What does that imply? Milan’s dominant man must settle for a point

After their 3-0 loss to Lille on Thursday, Pioli said his side “must be able to step it up again” against Verona. He did not get the outcome that he was after, but his players had no lack of effort. While only eight were on goal, they had a whopping 34 shots and enjoyed 66 per cent possession in what was a largely dominant display despite the scoreline.

The strings are pulled by Calhanoglu

For some time, how Hakan Calhanoglu did not end up with an assist will remain a mystery. Eleven chances were produced by Turkey International-eight more than any other player-and they delivered 17 crosses, eight of which reached a team-mate.

Ibrahimovic ‘s mixed fortunes

The veteran striker was in the thick of the action throughout and, with a dramatic late leveller, canceled out his missed penalty. However, considering he had 14 shots on target, he would have expected to score sooner. His issue? There were only three on goal.

3 – Zlatan #Ibrahimovic is the player to have failed the most penalties in the top-5 European Championships in all competitions 2020-21 (3). Inaccurate.#MilanHellasVerona

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) November 8, 2020

Key Details from Opta

— For the first time since January 2017, Milan conceded twice inside the first 20 minutes of a Serie A match at home to Napoli.
—This was the first time Milan had trailed this season in a match, having taken the lead this term in each of their previous six league matches.
— In seven consecutive Serie A appearances since the move to three points for a win (1994-95), Ibrahimovic became the first Milan player to score.
-But Ibrahimovic has now missed more penalties in all of this season’s competitions than any other player in the top five European leagues.

And what is next?

Following the international break, Milan visited Napoli, led by former boss Gennaro Gattuso, while Verona hosted in-form Sassuolo.