AC Milan, without Zlatan Ibrahimovic absent until mid-September, provided the essentials for his debut at Sampdoria in Genoa (1-0) on Monday, with a combative Olivier Giroud for his first steps in Italy and a Mike Maignan already impeccable on his line.

If the ex-Chelsea striker did not score, he gave his person for 90 minutes, in a pivotal center-forward role to "Ibra", not hesitating to press the opposing defense high.

Milan, deprived of other key pieces for the recovery (Kessié and Bennacer in the middle), was in tune with his new French center-forward, with a committed match, if not perfect.

A quick goal from Brahim Diaz, on a cross from Davide Calabria (9th), rewarded this solid entry.

[📺 VIDEO SUMMARY] 🇮🇹 #SerieA


💪 AC Milan sign a small 1-0 victory against Sampdoria thanks to Brahim Diaz!


👀 Maignan and Giroud were both holders! Https: //t.co/VfUVLImlum

- beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) August 23, 2021

Although he was not flawless at the time, Genoese goalkeeper Emil Audero kept watch all the rest of the match to keep the Blucerchiati afloat, decisive in particular in front of Rafael Leao (5th) and Theo Hernandez (26th). Olivier Giroud also found the goalkeeper's gloves, after a good check, but he was perhaps in an offside position (40th). And at the end of the match, he was not far from picking up a hot ball with his head (78th).

No goal for the French, who ran a lot but was also often jostled by a defense determined to honor the reputation of the rough calcio, generally leaving less space than the English football that Giroud attended since 2012. Milan is going a lot count on him at the start of the season, while Ibrahimovic, who operated on his left knee in June, will not be back on the pitch before mid-September.

Maignan's confidence

At the other end of the pitch, the other French rookie in the Milan transfer window, Mike Maignan, also made his debut.

Responsible for making forget Gianluigi Donnarumma, party to PSG, the former Lille has managed a faultless.

He was impeccable on his line, in particular to deflect a powerful free kick from Manolo Gabbiadini (17th) on his bar and then block a new attempt by the Genoese (53rd).

It was just as much in his aerial outings or at the foot, in front of Fabio Quagliarella (14th, 56th).

The third goalkeeper of the Blues showed a lot of confidence in his interventions, especially in a more tense end of the game.

A decisive performance because Milan, a little less dashing in the second half, failed to take off, Ante Rebic missing a ball 2-0 in added time.

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