Milan forced into early change against Sassuolo as Gabbia stretchered off in tears
MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 18: Matteo Gabbia of AC Milan warms up prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Milan defender Matteo Gabbia suffered an unfortunate injury just over a quarter of an hour into his side’s Serie A match away against Sassuolo on Sunday evening, forcing Ruben Amorim into an early substitution after being carried off on a stretcher.
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Gabbia stretchered off 20 minutes into his first Milan start of the season
This was Gabbia’s first start of the 2026-27 season, appearing twice off the bench at the beginning of the campaign before suffering a minor ankle issue in September. He was part of a Rossoneri back four that included Mario Gila at right-back, Pervis Estupinan at left-back and Strahinja Pavlovic as his centre-back partner.
His evening lasted for just over 15 minutes, though, after going down hurt while attempting to nick the ball off Armand Lauriente on the touchline on Sassuolo’s left wing.
Gabbia stretched for the ball, but was unable to get back off the deck as the referee waved for play to be continued: No foul had been committed either way.
A distraught Gabbia was eventually stretchered off in tears with what appears to be a flexor issue. He was replaced by Koni De Winter in the 20th minute.
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