Milan walks over what remains of Sampdoria: 5-1 with a hat-trick from Giroud

Milan – Milan does its duty, beats an already relegated Sampdoria 5-1 and very modest and conquering three essential points for the ride to a place for the next Champions League League. In front of the almost 70.000 of San Siro, Milan has literally dominated the scene and the match was never in question even if Samp did very little, as in the predictions on the eve of the game.

Still disappointed by the elimination suffered in the Champions League semi-final at the hands of their Nerazzurri cousins, AC Milan, fifth in the standings, were forced to win to repel Atalanta's attack, capable of overtaking Verona in the afternoon and catching them in the standings, and above all to hope to shorten the distance towards fourth place, the last one that allows qualification for the next Champions League.

Without having to wait for possible and probable ones Juventus penalties. Milan wants to raise its head again and what better opportunity than tonight: facing Sampdoria already mathematically relegated to Serie B and without any motivation other than to finish the season in a dignified manner.

Pioli loses in finishing Rebic, Origi and Vranckx, not exactly three starting players, and sends one of the best possible versions of Milan onto the pitch, with Maignan between the posts, a 4-man defense with Calabria on the right, Thiaw and Tomori in the center and Theo Hernandez on the left. Midfield 2 with Tonali and Krunic, and Messias, Diaz and Leao behind Giroud as the lone striker.

Stankovic instead fields a Samp with 4-4-2, with Ravaglia in goal, Zanoli, Gunter, Nuytinck and Augello in defense, Djuricic, Winks, Rincón and Léris in midfield and an advanced pair of Gabbiadini and Quagliarella.

After a protest for a possible penalty, for a contact between Theo Hernandez and Leris, the Milan took the lead in the 9th minute with Leao who, launched well in depth by Brahim Diaz, entered the area and beat Ravaglia with a precise flat touch. Milan dominates but in the 20th minute Sampdoria equalises the eternal Quagliarella. Zanoli goes away on the right to Theo Hernandez and Brahim Diaz and gives a nice ball to Quagliarella who crosses with the left and beats Maignan, scoring his 182nd center in Serie A and finding the joy of goal one year and four days after the 'last time.

Milan immediately returned to attacking with their heads down and in the 23rd minute they took the lead 2-1. Header by Thiaw and great save by Ravaglia who sends it into the corner. In the corner, Brahim Diaz assisted Giroud who headed the ball into the net. And in the 26th minute penalty for Milan. Leao goes away, enters the area, swerves and Gunter knocks him out hitting him on the left foot. Clear penalty that Giroud converts surprising Ravaglia and scoring his 10th goal of the season. In the 32nd minute the Samp goalkeeper surpassed himself to block a header from close range by Giroud well served by Tonali.

At the start of the second half, Sampdoria tried to get back into the game, at least from the point of view of the score. Great throw from Quagliarella for Leris who, lost by Theo Hernandez, puts it out from a few steps, missing a great opportunity. At 15' Saelemaekers comes in for Messias and 30'' later Giroud has the ball on his head for the hat-trick but the ball is central and Ravaglia thanks him. But the 4-1 did not take long to arrive. At 17' splendid action by the Rossoneri, with Leao feeding Tonali in the area, nice ball in the center for the tow of Brahim Diaz who puts the ball in the bag from a few steps away without any problems. And at 21' Giroud he takes home... the ball scoring the personal hat-trick after winning a body to body with Nuytinck assisted by Leao.

In Sampdoria Quagliarella, Gabbiadini and Leris are out and Oikomonou, Lammers and Amione are in. In Milan inside The Ketelaere for Brahim Diaz. At 35' three changes for Pioli: Pobega, Kjaer and Ballo Touré come on for Tonali, Tomori and Theo Hernandez. In Samp Paoletti for Rincon and Ilkhan for Djuricic. In the in the end nothing more happens, Milan wins 5-1 and starts again!