Alphadjo Cissè’s hat-trick powers AC Milan to a 4-0 Europa League win

Cissè sets the tone before Milan pull clear

AC Milan beat Red Bull Salzburg 4-0 in the UEFA Europa League League Stage - 2, leading 2-0 at half-time. Alphadjo Cissè supplied the defining contribution, scoring three times in a commanding away victory.

Cissè opened the scoring in the 15th minute, making it 0-1 after an assist from Omari Hutchinson. He struck again in the 32nd minute, with Davide Bartesaghi providing the assist for a 0-2 scoreline. His third goal arrived in the 49th minute, assisted by Adrien Rabiot, to put Milan 0-3 ahead. Gonçalo Ramos completed the scoring in the 72nd minute for 0-4.

Cissè was replaced by Christian Pulisic in the 60th minute, finishing with a match rating of 9.7, four shots on target and three goals in 60 minutes. Rabiot and Hutchinson each recorded an assist, while Ramos scored after entering for Francesco Camarda.

Milan’s finishing outweighed Salzburg’s possession

Salzburg had 52% possession and completed 461 accurate passes, compared with Milan’s 48% and 429 accurate passes. The shot totals were also close, with Salzburg recording 14 and Milan 15, but Milan put 10 shots on goal against Salzburg’s two. The expected-goals figures further reflected the difference in chance quality: 3.83 for Milan and 0.86 for Salzburg.

Milan’s Filippo Terracciano received a red card in the 83rd minute. Omari Hutchinson and Valentin Zabransky were booked earlier.

Post-match table leaves both level on points

The supplied provisional standings place Salzburg #21 and Milan #16, both on 3 points from 2 games. Juventus leads on 6 points, leaving both teams 3 points behind the leader. The result changes Milan’s pre-match sequence of Loss, Win, while Salzburg’s pre-match Win, Draw, Win, Win, Win, Loss is followed by this defeat.