AC Milan 1-1 Salernitana: Oliver Giroud scores but Theo Hernandez's error cost Rossoneri in a draw at home (Highlights)

After Olivier Giroud's flicked header was cancelled out by Boulaye Dia as AC Milan limped to a 1-1 draw at home to Salernitana, the possibility of defending the Serie A title was long since gone, and now there are new worries about a top-four finish.

Things move fast in football and no sooner had AC Milan reached the UEFA Champions League quarter finals at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur last week, they found themselves hosting relegation threatened Salernitana with the Rossoneri locked in a five-way joust for the remaining three top-four spots in Serie A. After the excitement of a European away day in the English capital during a challenging season, it appeared that confidence had been restored. However, for at least 45 minutes against a Salernitana team fighting for its very existence at the bottom of the table, Milan looked labored and ineffective.

Many anticipated that goal-shy Milan would open the season with their superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovi up front, but Stefano Pioli stuck with Giroud, and the Frenchman rewarded his boss in like.

Giroud had Milan's first and only meaningful opportunity on 28 minutes when he speculatively tried an ambitious overhead kick from a corner that whistled just over the bar after failing to score in the previous five games in a row. That was an acrobatic warning, and shortly before halftime, Giroud outran his defender to flick in a header from an inswinging corner from Ismael Bennacer.

Star forward Dia is unquestionably responsible for Salernitana's Serie A standing. The Frenchman had a golden opportunity to score in the first half, but he failed to take advantage of Theo Hernandez's error, and Mike Maignan skillfully dispossessed the forward as he advanced. On the second attempt, which came after 61 minutes had elapsed, Dia converted flawlessly from six yards out after the ball had been rolled across the box.

Pioli sent in his proverbial cavalry in the form of Ibrahimovi and Divock Origi, but the Salernitana defense stood firm to deny Milan a crucial three points in the race for Champions League football next season, despite the dynamic duo posing more of a threat than Rafael Leo.