Sassuolo 1-1 Milan: Odenthal answers Rabiot

Milan’s lead lasted only five minutes as Sassuolo held them to a 1-1 draw at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia on Sunday 11 October 2026. Adrien Rabiot put the visitors ahead in the 63rd minute, but Cas Odenthal answered from a corner in the sixth round of Serie A. Milan had worked through a disrupted opening and a series of saves to make their breakthrough; their inability to deal with the set piece then left them needing another goal rather than defending an advantage through the closing stages.

Ruben Amorim began with a 4-4-1-1, placing Christian Pulisic behind Goncalo Ramos and selecting Matteo Gabbia for his first Serie A start of the season. That defensive arrangement soon needed a personnel change when Gabbia had to leave the field and Koni De Winter took his place. Sassuolo also altered their back line, bringing Odenthal on for Foppe Leysen. Frequent stoppages hindered the rhythm, while the hosts’ pressure caused errors in Milan’s build-up without producing major early scoring chances.

Milan became more dangerous after the half-hour. Rabiot reached a header ahead of Arijanet Muric but sent it over, before Ramos tested the goalkeeper twice in quick succession in the 43rd minute with a left-footed shot and a header. The visitors continued to threaten during seven minutes of added time: Diego Moreira had a left-footed effort saved, and Strahinja Pavlovic’s header also met resistance from Muric. The stronger finish to the half did not translate into a lead, with the teams still level at the interval.

Modric changes Milan’s shape before Sassuolo respond

Amorim replaced the booked Pervis Estupinan with Luka Modric at half-time and moved Milan to a 3-4-2-1, with Rabiot and Pulisic supporting Ramos. Chukwueze and Ramos went close as the visitors started the second half positively, although Sassuolo gradually recovered their balance. Modric eventually supplied the pass that released Rabiot inside the penalty area. The Frenchman struck left-footed at the near post to beat Muric, turning the midfield change into a concrete attacking reward rather than another unconverted opportunity.

Sassuolo had introduced Kieron Bowie and Kristian Thorstvedt during the second half, and their response to falling behind quickly tested Mike Maignan. Bowie threatened with a left-footed attempt that the Milan goalkeeper stopped, giving the home side an opening in open play before the equaliser. The visitors therefore came under renewed pressure almost as soon as they had scored. Instead of being able to slow the contest around their lead, Milan had to contend with Sassuolo’s attempts to restore parity.

The equaliser arrived in the 68th minute from Armand Lauriente’s corner. The ball reached the crowded goalmouth, where Odenthal found the touch to divert it into the net. The defender, brought on during the first half, supplied the finish that Milan could not prevent at close range. Maignan’s earlier intervention against Bowie had kept the lead intact, but the next decisive opening came from a different source: a set piece that Sassuolo converted before the visitors could establish any lasting control of the scoreline.

Late openings leave Milan four points from the summit

Milan sought a quick reply of their own. Pulisic played a forward pass through to Samuel Chukwueze, putting the winger in position to confront Muric. Slightly off balance, Chukwueze tried to finish with the toe of his boot but could not beat the goalkeeper. This was a fresh opportunity to restore the advantage after Odenthal’s goal, rather than merely a continuation of the pressure before Rabiot scored. Sassuolo survived it and kept the match level as both managers turned to further changes for the closing stages.

Amorim introduced Ardon Jashari and Cisse for Yunus Musah and Pulisic, and Cisse soon had a chance to make an impact. The substitute curled a shot wide in the 83rd minute, leaving Milan without the second goal they were seeking. Omari Hutchinson later replaced Chukwueze, but the last clear opening belonged to Sassuolo. Thorstvedt sent a curling left-footed effort towards goal, forcing Maignan into another save shortly before the final whistle and ensuring the visitors still had defensive work to complete.

The point left Milan unbeaten after six league matches but fifth in the table on 12 points, four behind the leaders, with the chance to draw level with third place missed. Alberto Aquilani’s Sassuolo reached eight points and stood tenth. The result also extended Milan’s wait for a league victory at Sassuolo’s ground: their most recent success there remained the win during the title-winning 2021-22 season. Since then, their league visits had produced one defeat and three draws, including this latest meeting.