In the Zone: How Milan sank Salzburg

After nine years, AC Milan secured their return to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League with victory against Salzburg on Matchday 6.

The Rossoneri's 4-0 success against the Austrian champions ensured them second place in Group E behind Chelsea as well as bringing their first back-to-back victories in the competition since 2011/12.

In this article brought to you by FedEx, the UEFA Technical Observer panel puts Stefano Pioli's team under the spotlight, highlighting their speed and creativity on the left wing as well as an outstanding centre-forward display from the evergreen Olivier Giroud, who contributed two goals and two assists.

Goals

1-0: Olivier Giroud (14)

From Sandro Tonali's deep, outswinging corner, the veteran struck with a powerful downward header which went in via a slight nick off Junior Adamu, the Salzburg man guarding the far post.

2-0: Rade Krunić (46)

Giroud was involved again, rising above his marker to direct Ante Rebić's fabulous right-wing cross back towards Krunić, who steered it with his head inside the far post. For the 29-year-old Bosnian, it was his first goal in the Champions League.

3-0: Olivier Giroud (57)

Rafael Leão was the architect with a terrific dribble across the full width of the penalty box which he concluded by pulling the ball back across goal. With Bernardo unable to connect and Amar Dedić, behind him, miscuing, the ball reached Giroud on the edge of the five-metre box and he drove it into the ground and up into the net for his fourth goal in this season's competition.

4-0: Junior Messias (90+1)

From the halfway line, Giroud sent substitute Junior Messias racing into space down the right. Entering the box, the Brazilian stepped inside Strahinja Pavlović before curling a shot inside the far corner.

Player of the Match: Olivier Giroud

At 36 years and 33 days, the Frenchman became the oldest player to be involved in three or more goals in a Champions League match since the current format was established in 2003/04. Along with his awareness and aerial power in the penalty box, he was praised by the UEFA observer for his all-round contribution to Milan's play: "He was always in position to challenge for the ball when Milan played it long towards him and put a lot of energy into his defensive work."

Team formations

AC Milan

Milan's starting 4-2-3-1 set-up

The home side's starting formation was a 4-2-3-1, though in possession they shifted to a 3-4-3 with left-back Theo Hernández (19) moving higher up the field when Milan had the ball and posing a constant threat for Salzburg (of which more below).

In their build-up play, Ismaël Bennacer (4) would step across to receive the ball from his right-back Pierre Kalulu (20). Giroud (9) was always available for a longer ball if they could not find a solution on the ground, while Rafael Leão (17) was dangerous with his dribbling.

Milan showed defensive discipline as a team and, without the ball, would switch to a 5-3-2 with Kalulu stepping infield to ensure they had three central defenders against the two strikers of Salzburg. It then fell on Rebić (12) to drop back on the right.

Meanwhile, the view of the UEFA observer was that Pioli selected Krunić (33) as his attacking midfielder for his reliability on the defensive side, which was significant given Milan had three players in the midfield against the four of Salzburg.

Salzburg

Salzburg's diamond formation

The visitors' set-up was a 4-1-2-1-2 – or midfield diamond. They often build up with their two centre-backs, though on Wednesday Lucas Gourna-Douath (27) would step back to support his defenders in this task. Unlike Milan, they sought consistently to work the ball on the ground, while both of their full-backs, Dedić (70) and Maximilian Wöber (39), looked to get high up the pitch.

Without the ball, Salzburg's front two would press from the front with the help of midfielder Maurits Kjærgaard (14).

Features

A key feature of Milan's display on Wednesday was their full-back play, as highlighted in the video above. The action in the first clip is from the third minute of the game and provides a taste of things to come.

With Salzburg's pressure forcing Milan goalkeeper Ciprian Tătăruşanu to aim a long kick for the head of Giroud (and, for the record, the Rossoneri ended the evening with a 66.7% of aerial duels won), they eventually work the ball to Hernández, surging up the left, who angles a shot against the base of the post. The second clip, similarly, shows him breaking upfield to be available for the ball out wide and attempt a cross.

As well as Giroud, the Player of the Match, the observer cited Hernández as a key (and tireless) performer for Milan with his dribbling, running and passing. The Frenchman's presence ensured Milan had plenty of creativity on their left side, balanced by solidity on the right.

Another player to catch the eye was central midfielder Bennacer, who made a significant contribution both defensively and offensively. He and Tonali had their work cut out given Salzburg's midfield diamond ensured the visitors more numbers in that area, yet he always looked to receive the ball and got forward to support the attack.

Overall, it was a strong Milan performance against a Salzburg side who had earned draws from their previous away trips to Chelsea and Dinamo Zagreb. Indeed, before Milan gained control, Salzburg posed them some early difficulties, notably through Luka Sučić, playing behind the two strikers, who impressed the UEFA observer with his work in tight spaces. As the observer noted, the 20-year-old has the useful habit of scanning the scene before he receives the ball, not to mention a fine left foot.

Salzburg looked like a team with a clear plan and this should serve them well when they step into the UEFA Europa League after Christmas. They were aggressive in their defending and eager to put pressure on the ball, and when they had it, they sought to work it forward with combinations. Yet ultimately they paid a heavy price for their naivety against an experienced Milan side – witness, for example, the first goal when Giroud was free to head in from a corner, not to mention the sloppy defending for his second.

Salzburg ended the night with 16 shots to Milan's 15 – and an xG of 1.61 to their hosts' 1.78 – yet, as Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle put it, the seven-times winners had been "ice cold" when it counted

Coaches' assessments

Stefano Pioli, Milan coach: "These kinds of nights are what we wished for. We wanted to show we'd improved compared with last season in the Champions League. We're ambitious now, so let's see what happens next."

Matthias Jaissle, Salzburg coach: "It was a brave performance, but unfortunately our opponents are absolutely world class in every single position. The game was decided in the penalty areas. Milan were ice cold and we couldn't put the ball into the net."