Amorim's AC Milan beat Torino 1-2 in Serie A season opener

AC Milan launched their Serie A campaign with a hard-fought 1-2 win away at Torino, a result that backs up the encouraging vibes surrounding Rúben Amorim's first project as head coach of the rossoneri. Milan controlled long stretches of the match and held firm against a late Torino surge that lasted until the final whistle.

• AC Milan won 1-2 away to Torino on Serie A's opening weekend
• 19-year-old Alphadjo Cissé and Adrien Rabiot scored the winning goals
• Luka Modric came off the bench and threatened with two dangerous corner deliveries
• Former Real Madrid defender Mario Gila impressed on his debut before leaving with discomfort
• Amorim's side aims to return Milan to Scudetto contention after three years without the title

How the match between Torino and Milan unfolded

In the first half, Milan dictated the tempo, leaning on the combination between Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Cissé while waiting for Modric, who started on the bench, to enter the game. The visitors built their approach around high pressing and width, with Samuel Chukwueze among the most dangerous outlets. Torino, managed by Ignazio Abate, looked to hit on the counter through their main attacking reference, Giovanni Simeone.

Gonçalo Ramos's much-anticipated debut didn't end in a goal, but it gave him valuable minutes against a solid Ardian Ismajili, who nullified almost every ball aimed his way. On the other flank, Spanish defender Mario Gila, who arrived from Lazio following his spell at Real Madrid, stood out for his composure in build-up play before being forced off with discomfort in the second half.

Modric's introduction and Cissé's opener

The pattern of the game changed little after the break, with Milan still dominating possession. In the 56th minute, Amorim brought on Modric, who within three minutes had already whipped in two dangerous corners. The Croatian, who turns 41 on September 9, remains a valuable presence in the Milan dressing room.

The breakthrough came in the 64th minute when Cissé, making his debut for both Milan and in Serie A, found the far corner with a well-placed strike to put his side ahead. Amorim's decision to trust the young midfielder, born in 2006, paid off handsomely and marks him out as one of the players to watch this season as he begins to break into the first team.

Rabiot doubles the lead as Torino push late

Just two minutes after the opener, substitute Rabiot latched onto a precise cross from Chukwueze to make it 2-0. Gonçalo Ramos nearly added a third moments later, but the ball didn't go in. Torino, refusing to give up, kept pumping crosses into the box and finally got their reward in the 92nd minute through a spectacular effort from Che Adams, an overhead-style finish struck with his standing foot still on the ground that flew into the top corner.

The goal came too late to threaten Milan's result, as the visitors managed the closing minutes to secure three points that serve as an early statement of intent for the season, on a weekend when neither Inter nor Juventus dropped points either.

What's at stake for Amorim's Milan this season

Milan haven't lifted the Scudetto since 2022, and this season the club features prominently among the favorites in many pre-season predictions. The board has been overhauled and the club has spent heavily in the transfer market, with the signing of Gonçalo Ramos standing out as one of the marquee moves. Amorim, schooled in the Portuguese coaching tradition shaped by José Mourinho, already proved with Sporting that he can restore a club to the top level, even though his time at Manchester United didn't work out. Now he's looking to repeat that success in Italy.

A tribute to Franco Baresi before kickoff

The win came under the shadow of remembrance for Franco Baresi, the club's legendary former captain, who passed away on July 31 at the age of 66. The entire squad will wear a commemorative patch on the left sleeve throughout the season reading '6 per sempre,' honoring the shirt number he made iconic at San Siro. Next up, Milan host Venezia, who lost to Lecce, while Torino travel to face Sassuolo following their defeat to Atalanta.