The reigning Serie A champions only needed six minutes to break the deadlock when Messias took advantage of a great team play to find the back of the net.
Sampdoria seemed as if they’d respond and Filip Djuricic was inches away from equalizing shortly after with a long-range effort that rattled the crossbar, but they couldn’t sustain that intensity and Milan quickly recovered control of the game.
The ‘Rossoneri’ outfit doubled their tally midway through the first half through Charles De Ketelaere with a potent header following an assist from Rafael Leão, but the goal was ruled out due to a previous offside in the build-up.
Things slowed down eventually and Sampdoria showed some signs of life, but their lack of ideas in the final third was alarming and barely threatened Mike Maignan and Milan’s defence.
The second half began with a bang as Leao got sent off for a dangerous foul just two minutes after the break, and the red card allowed Sampdoria to move higher up the pitch.
The move would pay off dividends almost instantly, and the hosts evened things up through Djuricic, who nodded home a perfect cross from Tommaso Augello from very close range.
Milan received a gift out of nowhere with a penalty over a controversial handball and that allowed them to recover the lead, with Giroud stepping up confidently to bury the spot kick.
Sampdoria struggled to react following the penalty and looked lost at one point, but the entrances of Manolo Gabbiadini and Fabio Quagliarella provided the spark the team was searching for an equaliser.
Milan decided to sit back and play on the counter knowing they were down to 10 men, and the Rossoneri held on to secure the three points in what was the club’s first away victory of the current Serie A campaign.
As for Sampdoria, they remain winless and could even finish the weekend at the bottom of the standings if other results go against them.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Olivier Giroud (AC Milan)
