Berardi hopes to haunt Milan again – the background on Maldini’s attempt

AC Milan will take on Sassuolo in the Coppa Italia last 16 tomorrow night, and that means Domenico Berardi will be returning to San Siro.

This morning’s edition of Tuttosport (via PianetaMilan) reports that Fabio Grosso’s side will make the trip hoping to cause an upset by knocking Milan out. Given that they are top of Serie B and on course for an instant return to the top flight, they will be full of confidence.

Berardi is expected to start for the Neroverde, as he continued to get back to his best after the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered last season. He returned to the field in October after a seveh-month absence, one which ultimately prevented him moving to a bigger club in Serie A.

He has seven appearances with one goal and six assists so far this season, but now he has Milan in his sights and it is a game that he seems to like. In his career the Italian has scored 11 goals against the Rossoneri, and Paolo Maldini actually wanted him in summer 2023 before being sacked.

The most striking example was on 12 January 2014 when he scored all four games in a 4-3 win for Sassuolo at home over Milan, a match that got Massimiliano Allegri the sack. He has scored three against the Diavolo at San Siro, and even four against Inter.