Milan secured a vital point away after coming from 3-1 down to 3-3 against Sassuolo.
It could be frustrating for the Diavlo that secured a draw through Noah Okafor’s equaliser as two of Samuel Chukwueze’s goals were disallowed for millimeters offsides.
The Rossoneri came into the tie on the back of a 1-0 Europa League quarter-final home defeat to Roma. They rested most of their stars ahead of the second leg on Thursday and suffered rhythm.
The hosts took a surprising early lead with their first attack. Cristian Volpato released a cross from the right, and Kristian Thorstvedt flicked it on so that Andrea Pinamonti could smash in on the half-volley from 14 yards.
Theo Hernandez released an across that passed through the face of the goal after a probable foul on Yunus Musah inches outside the penalty area.
Sassuolo made it two as Lauriente ran onto the Thorstvedt slide-rule pass. Marco Sportiello only managed to dodge, giving the striker another opportunity to turn in the rebound from point-blank range.
Andrea Consigli was called into action when he made a big save from point-blank range on Malick Thiaw’s header from a corner.
Milan thought they had reduced the deficit through Chukwueze. It was chalked off, having wandered inches offside on the delayed Rafael Leao cross.
Milan eventually reduced the deficit moments later. Leao slalomed between Ruan Tressoldi and Daniel Boloca before bending the low finish into the far bottom corner from a tricky angle with his right foot.
After Volpato tested Sportiello from a distance, Consigli had to make a great double save on Alessandro Florenzi and Theo Hernandez’s scorchers at the near post.
Sassuolo restored their two-goal lead as Laurence, who had too much time and space, fired the shot into the far bottom corner from Gregoire Defrel’s slide-rule pass.
Lauriente had the opportunity to score a hat-trick when on the counter-attack. However, due to several options, he completely misplaced the pass, which proved costly.
Milan immediately reduced the parity again and scored when Leao’s cross was palmed into the path of Luka Jovic, who turned in from close range undisturbed.
Chukwueze thought he had finally scored in the 63rd minute but once again ruled millimetres offside for his shoulder as he had run onto an Alessandro Florenzi ball over the top and fired in off the inside of the far post from a tricky angle.
Milan eventually equalised through Okafor as Matteo Gabbia knocked on a corner for the substitute to volley in from six yards on an Adli pull-back from the by-line.
Giroud almost turned it around moments later, but his effort went wide while slipping from a deflected Pulisic pull-back as Milan poured forward.
Written by Oladipupo Mojeed
