It only took four minutes for Olivier Giroud to score a first goal with his new club, AC Milan, who drew with OGC Nice (1-1) on Saturday night at the Allianz Riviera, in preparation match.
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Came into play in the 61st minute in place of the Portuguese Leao, in a match where Milan had just conceded the first goal on a penalty from the Nice-will-o'-the-wisp Amine Gouiri (1-0, 59th), Giroud, arrived from Chelsea this summer, quickly showed that he could be important for the Rossoneri this season.
Four minutes after his entry, he indeed played Kephren Thuram in the air and victoriously resumed a free kick wrapped by Samuel Castillejo (1-1, 65th).
Subsequently, the ex-Londoner was invaluable in a register of center-forward in pivot that he masters to perfection.
Between defensive pressing and conservation of the ball, by causing faults, his panoply can allow him to quickly seduce Italy.
After nine seasons in England, the 2018 world champion, who has scored 90 goals in 255 Premier League games in Arsenal and then Chelsea shirts, is under contract with Milan until 2023. He still has two weeks to go. gain momentum before the opening of Serie A. His club will play in Genoa against Sampdoria.
Mike Maignan solid
Another French rookie of the Italian club, goalkeeper Mike Maignan (ex-Lille) only played half of the match.
Very sober, and faithful to his habits, he knew how to play far from his goals to cut off the opposing offensives (15th) or be solid on a corner (40th).
He was replaced by his left post on a free kick from Gouiri (24 ').
Christophe Galtier's Nice, who will start their Ligue 1 season next Sunday against Reims, provided a solid game defensively. But they still have to perfect their offensive automatisms to claim to play the top of the table.
