Romagnoli gets to the ball ahead of Tonelli and wins a free-kick for Milan with just a minute on the clock.
90' +2
Candreva launches a hopeful ball into the box but it's well defended by Milan.
90' +1
There will be four minutes of added time.
90'
R. Krunić enters the game and replaces H. Çalhanoğlu.
Calhanoglu is replaced by Krunic for the closing stages of this one.
The space opens up for Milan and Calhanoglu. The midfielder attempts to feed Castillejo on the right but the pass is overhit and with it, the chance to bury the game is gone.
89'
Hauge wins a free-kick for Milan who take the opportunity to waste precious seconds.
88'
Sampdoria continue to flood forward and win another corner. Donnarumma comes out to meet the delivery but it's not convincing. The keeper was lucky Romagnoli reacted quickest to the loose ball.
84'
The hosts have their tails up now as they go in search of an equaliser.
82'
A. Ekdal has scored a goal for Sampdoria! Assist by M. Damsgaard.
M. Léris enters the game and replaces T. Augello.
GOAAAAALLLLL! SAMPDORIA ARE BACK IN IT! Ekdal makes a Cavani-esque run across the front post and squeezes his header past Donnarumma who got a hand to it. The goal-line technology confirms the ball was over the line and we have a game on our hands again! 2-1!
Augello is replaced by Leris for the hosts.
It was a brilliant delivery from Candreva that gave Ekdal the chance to score.
77'
Samu Castillejo has scored a goal for AC Milan! Assist by A. Rebić.
GOAAAAALL! CASTILLEJO DOUBLES MILAN'S LEAD! Rebic was found in space behind the Sampdoria defence and his cut-back was brilliantly powered home by Castillejo who had been on the field a matter of seconds. 2-0 Milan!
It was a brilliant pass from Rebic to set up his team-mate.
Minute
Description
76'
Samu Castillejo enters the game and replaces A. Saelemaekers.
Pioli makes another change for the final 15 minutes. Castillejo is on for Saelemaekers.
74'
Calabria and Saelemaekers attempt to find the same kind of space down the right that they were afforded in the first half, but there is more than enough cover in place for Sampdoria. That's definitely something that was discussed at the break.
72'
Candreva switches play to Augello on the left. The full-back's delivery looks destined to give Thorsby another golden opportunity but Kessie gets the faintest of touches to divert the ball agonisingly behind the Sampdoria midfielder.
71'
The game still hangs in the balance as we enter the final 20 minutes here.
67'
Rebic's flick-on from Donnarumma's goal-kick appears to have put Saelemaekers clean through, but Colley recovers brilliantly to outmuscle the Milan man and recover possession.
66'
Calhanoglu's long-range effort is blocked and the ball rebounds back to him. He feeds Hauge on the left whose attempted delivery is poor.
65'
It's Milan's turn to enjoy some possession. Playing the ball across from left to right and back again, they bide their time and wait for an opening.
63'
Ferrari takes on Tonali and earns a free-kick. Candreva takes and fires a ball towards the back post but Donnarumma is on hand to punch to safety.
61'
Up the other end and Candreva wins a corner. Rebic and Calhanoglu combine to concede another two before Milan eventually clear the danger.
59'
Calhanoglu finds himself in a brilliant position. In the middle of Sampdoria's half he has plenty of options ahead of him. However, his throughball is nowhere near anyone and nobody is more frustrated than him as he slaps the ground in anger.
57'
A. La Gumina enters the game and replaces M. Gabbiadini.
Another change for the hosts as Gabbiadini is replaced by La Gumina.
Milan enjoy a spell of possession and take the opportunity to slow the tempo down. They've not come out and controlled the game how they would've liked so far.
55'
Gabbia has no option but to concede a corner after some promising play from Sampdoria. It's played short before Tonelli has an audacious attempt on goal blocked.
53'
Damsgaard spins Tonali before the Milan midfielder hauls his foe down and concedes a free-kick.
52'
Milan are sizing up a dangerous free-kick. Calhanoglu strikes with venom but the wall does its job and diverts the ball out for a corner.
50'
A couple of hopeful balls are played towards Quagliarella but the Milan defence will have no trouble dealing with them for the remainder of the game. The home side need to find more cutting edge to get back into this one before it's too late.
48'
Up the other end, Sampdoria are on the attack before Donnarumma is fouled right under the nose of the referee.
46'
A. Ekdal enters the game and replaces Adrien Silva.
M. Damsgaard enters the game and replaces J. Jankto.
J. Hauge enters the game and replaces Brahim Díaz.
And Jankto, who gave away the penalty and was booked, is replaced by Damsgaard.
Ranieri makes two changes for the second period. First, Ekdal replaces Silva.
Changes for both sides at the break. For Milan, Hauge is on for Diaz.
We're back under way for the second half.
45' +4
HALF-TIME: SAMPDORIA 0-1 MILAN
45' +3
Milan break quickly from the back in an attempt to double the advantage on the stroke of half-time. Diaz has a chance to strike from the edge of the box but slices it badly in what will likely be the last action of the opening 45 minutes.
45' +1
J. Jankto gets yellow.
There will be three minutes of added time.
After giving away the penalty, Jankto is now booked for a foul on Tonali.
45'
Penalty goal scored by F. Kessié for AC Milan!
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLL! MILAN LEAD 1-0! Kessie steps up and makes no mistake, chipping it high and down the middle to put the league leaders in front.
41'
The goal-line technology showed the ball wasn't over the line, but it wasn't far away.
35'
Gabbiadini breaks on a stretched Milan defence. The former Southampton striker has options right and left before deciding to go it alone and scuff a shot straight down the throat of Donnarumma.
34'
Hernandez has a chance to cross from the left flank but his attempt is blocked easily before the ball is cleared.
33'
The forward is fouled again, this time further up the pitch. Sampdoria waste the chance by playing the free-kick short.
32'
Gabbia is penalised for a challenge on Quagliarella which allows the home side a chance to slow the game down.
30'
Saelemaekers has a slash on goal from the corner which is cut back to him outside the box, but it's way over the bar.
29'
Calhanoglu wins a corner for the visitors after being found with a scything pass from Calabria.
26'
Adrien Silva gets yellow.
Saelemaekers and Calabria work the ball nicely on the right again. The latter tries to feed Diaz who has made a good run to the byline but the pass is intercepted well.
Silva is booked for a challenge on Kessie.
22'
Milan work a corner short before Diaz floats a ball to the back post. Romognoli is up highest to meet it but can't generate enough power to trouble Audero who comfortably gathers.
21'
The Blucerchiati steal possession in the middle of the park and Candreva plays a ball over the top for Quagliarella, but it's underhit and easily picked off by the Milan defence.
20'
O. Colley enters the game and replaces B. Bereszyński.
Bereszynski won't be returning and is replaced by Colley.
18'
The hosts are down to 10 men momentarily as Bereszynski trudges off to receive treatment.
17'
Rebic floats a ball to the back post but Calabria's touch is heavy and the chance is gone.
15'
Candreva has a chance to break when the hosts snatch possession quickly. However, the midfielder just can't control the ball and Milan are let off the hook.
14'
Calabria has been at the heart of everything Milan have tried to do so far.
11'
After a poor opening six minutes or so, Ranieri will be delighted with the response from his side.
10'
Candreva has a chance to put a meaningful ball into the box but it's well defended by Milan before the hosts recover and win another corner.
7'
The hosts win the first corner of the game. Tonali's sloppy pass was pounced upon by Candreva who made a positive run towards the Milan goal.
6'
Diaz is in the Sampdoria box but can't get the ball under control. Hernandez recovers possession before clumsily wasting a potential opportunity.
5'
F. Kessié gets yellow.
Sampdoria try to break before Kessie hauls Gabbiadini down and earns the first card of the game.
4'
Milan have started the more assured here. Sampdoria are sitting very deep, allowing the visitors all the ball. Calabria gets to the byline and attempts a cross from the right which is blocked.
2'
Sampdoria are sporting a special strip tonight as they celebrate the 120th anniversary of Andrea Doria merging with local club Sampierdarenese to create the Sampdoria name. They'll be hoping to mark the occasion with a win.
1'
Referee Gianpaolo Calvarese blows his whistle and we’re under way.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Serie A meeting between Sampdoria and Milan from the Luigi Ferraris Stadium.
The hosts are winless in four and now occupy 12th in the league table, so it’s far from the ideal time to welcome a Milan side who are flying. Last time out, the Blucerchiati led Torino with 15 minutes to go before conceding late to draw. They have scored in their last 12 Serie A home games, so they’ll have at least a chance if they can keep that up here.
The current league leaders are hoping to carry on two streaks of their own. Having equalled the record for scoring in consecutive Serie A games against Fiorentina last week, Milan can break it with a goal tonight. And if that wasn’t enough, they’re also looking to make it seven consecutive away wins. In their last fixture, they overturned a two-goal deficit against Celtic in the Europa League to win 4-2.
SAMPDORIA (4-4-2): Emil Audero; Bartosz Bereszynski, Alex Ferrari, Lorenzo Tonelli, Tommaso Augello; Antonio Candreva, Morten Thorsby, Adrien Silva, Jakub Jankto; Manolo Gabbiadini, Fabio Quagliarella.
SAMPDORIA SUBS: Mikkel Damsgaard, Albin Ekdal, Antonino La Gumina, Valerio Verre, Maya Yoshida, Karlo Letica, Gaston Ramírez, Vasco Regini, Omar Colley, Kaique Rocha, Nicola Ravaglia, Mehdi Leris.
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Davide Calabria, Matteo Gabbia, Alessio Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Sandro Tonali, Franck Kessie; Alexis Saelemaekers, Hakan Calhanoglu, Brahim Diaz; Ante Rebic.
MILAN SUBS: Pierre Kalulu Kyatengwa, Samu Castillejo, Leo Duarte, Antonio Mionic, Jens Hauge, Andrea Conti, L. Colombo, Rade Krunic, Antonio Donnarumma, Daniel Maldini, Diogo Dalot, Ciprian Tatarusanu.
The teams are emerging from the tunnel with kick-off moments away.
It's a long way back for Sampdoria who offered little threat going forward. Their best moment came early on when Donnarumma saved from Tonelli in the eighth minute, and ominously for the home side, Milan are unbeaten in their 17 Serie A games where Franck Kessie has found the net (W15 D2).
With the win, the Rossoneri restore their five-point lead at the top of Serie A after Inter had reduced the gap to two points with their victory over Bologna yesterday. For Sampdoria, they remain 12th and are now without a win in five. They take on Napoli next while Milan return to Europa League action with an away tie against Sparta Prague.
Anyway, that's all from us today. I hope you enjoyed following our live text commentary. Until next time, goodbye!
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