AC Milan 5-1 Sampdoria – Olivier Giroud nets hat-trick as Milan saunter past relegated visitors in style

AC Milan cruised to victory against an already relegated Sampdoria side 5-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza to keep their top-four hopes alive in Serie A.

The Rossoneri went into an early lead as Rafael Leao finished coolly in the opening 10 minutes.

Sampdoria equalised as veteran Fabio Quagliarella converted a great cross from Alessandro Zanoli.

Oliver Giroud then scored twice, a sublime header and a penalty after Leao was fouled when through on goal.

Brahim Diaz impressed throughout and tapped in a fourth before Giroud bundled in for his hat-trick in untidy fashion.

The win takes Milan a point behind Lazio in fourth and two short of Inter in third, who both play tomorrow.

TALKING POINT – GIROUD ROLLS BACK THE YEARS

It was an easy night for AC Milan and Giroud took full advantage. His goals were typical of the veteran striker, a header, a penalty followed by him bullying a defender and tapping it in. Giroud may be 36 years old and Milan may need a new, younger striker this season but the French hero is a useful asset and always has an eye for goal. He has scored eleven in the last two Serie A seasons.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – BRAHIM DIAZ

His end product can be criticised but Brahim Diaz shone as Milan flexed their attacking power. The Spaniard floated behind Giroud and Samp struggled to get a grip of him. Two assists with inch perfect passes and a goal for the attacking midfielder after being in a great position. By the end of the game was pulling out flicks and tricks.

PLAYER RATINGS
AC Milan: Maignan 6, Calabria 6, Thiaw 6, Tomori 6, Hernandez 7, Krunic 6, Tonali 7, Messias 5, Diaz 8, Leao 8, Giroud 8.

Subs: Saelemaekers 6, De Ketelaere 5, Pobega 6, Kjaer 6, Toure 6,

Sampdoria: Ravaglia 6, Zanoli 7, Leris 6, Gunter 5, Nuytinck 5, Augello 6, Rincon 5, Winks 6, Djuricic 6, Gabbiadini 5, Quagliarella 6

Subs: Amione 6, Lammers 5, Oikonomou 5, Paoletti 6, Ilkhan

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

9’ – GOAL (LEAO) – Leao scores! Diaz drops a ball in behind for him and the winger is too quick for the Samp defenders as he opens his body up and fires it into the bottom corner.

20’ – GOAL (QUAGLIARELLA) – Out of nothing Sampdoria score. Zanoli does so well to get to the byline and skip the challenges of Diaz and Hernandez. He pulls it back for the 40-year-old Quagliarella to fire home. The veteran’s first goal of the season.

23’ – GOAL (GIROUD) – Poor from Samp as they give Diaz space to look up and cross after a short corner. It’s into the six-yard box and Giroud in typical fashion guides the header in.

29’ – GOAL (GIROUD) – Leao gets in behind after great football, He could shoot but cuts inside and Gunter trips him up with a slide tackle. Giroud steps up and scores.

63’ – GOAL (DIAZ) – Milan walk in their fourth goal. Leao slides Tonali in behind and he can roll it across the box for Diaz to tap home.

68’ – GOAL (GIROUD) – Giroud hat-trick. Him and Nuytinck are involved in a wrestling match as Leao swings the cross in. The striker gets the better of the Samp man and bundles it home for his third in the most untidy and scrappy way – he won’t care though. The match ball is his.