Cesena vs. AC Milan: Winners and Losers from Serie A Game
Cesena and Milan drew 1-1 at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi-Orogel Stadium on Sunday afternoon, sharing the spoils in another exciting Serie A encounter.
Here we pick winners and losers from a match that boasted almost everything there is to offer: goals, blunders, disallowed strikes and even a red card.
Who's come away with a positive report card, and who's lost ground? Check in and see if you agree.
Winner: The 'Stadio Dino Manuzzi-Orogel Stadium' and Davide Succi
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In partnership with local business and supporter Orogel, Cesena's stadium has changed its name from the Stadio Dino Manuzzi to Stadio Dino Manuzzi-Orogel Stadium.
It's a bit of a mouthful—especially if you don't speak Italian!—but it's a profitable move for the club and the arena enjoyed a great opening game to mark the event.
The first goal was scored by Cesena player Davide Succi when it looked like Milan were about to gain a stranglehold on the game, and the home side held on for the draw.
Loser: Christian Abbiati, Who Remains a Liability
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Christian Abbiati has lost his place as Milan's starting goalkeeper despite numerous glorious years of service firmly in the books. His performances over the last few years have warranted him being dropped, but the recent injury sustained by Diego Lopez against Parma necessitated his return to the starting XI.
Filippo Inzaghi will not have been happy with the Italian's latest outing; Abbiati's slim hopes of perhaps staving off Lopez vanished when he pushed a Guido Marilungo shot straight into the path of Davide Succi for the opening goal.
Another botched showing from the Rossoneri stalwart.
Winner: Adil Rami, Who Staked a Claim
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Competition for places in Milan's defence is fierce. OK, it doesn't boast the star-studded dilemmas of old, but Adil Rami knows he has legitimate options breathing down his neck.
Alex could be a big short-term influence and, for some reason, Daniele Bonera is still around, so for Rami to play well and net the equaliser with a towering header was massive from a personal point of view.
Loser: Cristian Zapata, Who Lost Ground in the Centre-Back Race
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By the very same token we've just praised Adil Rami, we must look at Cristian Zapata's performance in a different light.
Alex came on as a second-half sub after the Colombian received a straight red card in the 73rd minute. Gregoire Defrel was in behind the defense after a long ball opened them up and Zapata pulled him down.
Now, Alex stands to start alongside goalscorer Rami in the next game. Should both play well, Zapata could find his spell on the sidelines extending beyond his suspension.
Winner: Milan's Full-Backs, Who Played Well
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The midfield zone was easy for Nigel de Jong and Co., with Manuel Coppola and his men putting up a meek resistance to continuous possession and dominance.
With Jeremy Menez not creating and the wingers marginalised, the onus fell on the full-backs to create—and they nearly succeeded in their mission.
Mattia De Sciglio's crosses are getting better and Ignazio Abate is at his best when hitting the byline. The pair crossed a lot—De Sciglio alone managed a whopping eight, per WhoScored.com—and Milan's best chance of a goal came from these deliveries.
Loser: Pippo Inzaghi's Tactics, Which Stunted Milan Offensively
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This Milan side isn't the mini-force it was in the opening two games, and the common denominator is that Fernando Torres has come into the side.
That's not to say he's solely at fault—he is partially, but not entirely—as the biggest impact has come about from moving Jeremy Menez out of the false-nine role.
He's patchy from the wing and strops when he doesn't see the ball; in behind the striker against Cesena, he was even worse, too willing to put his head down and dribble blindly rather than looking up for passes.
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