Monthly Archive: October 2021

The match started openly. Roma had a couple of half chances on a counter, on one occasion Abraham out-dueled Tomori and then another using their right Roma beat Theo and Leao rather easily. Milan had even more with Ibra, Leao and Calabria all with decent chances to open the scoring early. Saelemaekers looked more active and involved than recent matches.

Milan opened the scoring. A free kick just outside the box was converted by Ibra, his low shot beat Rui Patricio in the far corner despite a Roma player lying on the pitch behind the wall.

Roma were struggling and seemed beatable. Leao controlled an Ibra header very well and headed the ball in but the goal was called back because Ibra had been offside. he match remained open and Milan had another good position free kick chance with again a Roma player lying on the pitch behind the wall, this time Rui Patricio stopped the dangerous wall.

The second half started with more of the same and it looked like Ibra had doubled the lead but VAR judged him offside. Moments later Ibra was offside again. Only moments later Tammy Abraham had a lot of room in the Milan box but his shot was blocked. The fast action continued with a counter where Ibra was brought down in the Roma box, the ref pointed to the penalty spot but decided to check the pitch side monitor. The penalty was awarded and then converted by Kessie.

Giroud came on for Ibra. Things continued to go well but Theo got a second yellow for a clumsy challenge, the first yellow earlier in the match was somewhat questionable but this second one was less so. Theo would therefore miss the derby next week, a big loss of course. Ballo-Toure came on for Saelemaekers as a forced sub. Sensing danger and perhaps one eye on the midweek Champions League match to come Pioli followed this up by a triple sub. Tonali, Romagnoli and Bakayoko came on for Bennacer, Leao and Krunic.

Roma came closest in the 82nd minute but Kjear headed the Roma header into corner with Tatarusanu not always looking the safest. Kjaer continued to be a rock. That didn’t prevemt a goal though. In added time, with Roma pressing and complaining at every action, El Shaarawy found lots of room in the middle of the box and made it 1-2.

The game ended with three points ahead of an important week.

Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1

1

Tătărușanu

2

Calabria

23

Tomori

24

Kjær

19

Hernandez

79

Kessié

4

Bennacer

56

Saelemaekers

10

Díaz

17

Leão

11

Ibrahimović

Substitutes

Two wins without playing well but with an astronomical injury list are good testament to the team’s growth and mental strength. Beating Bologna and Torino in less than ideal circumstances have Milan riding high in the Serie A standings. The injury list is in constant flux and is still big.

Roma offer a different threat than the recent wins. with Maignan, Rebic, Florenzi, Messias and Castillejo still out the team is still limited. Diaz’s return, at least, provides a real attacking threat not always present with either Krunic or Maldini in the central attacking midfield spot. The Spaniard has recovered from the positive coronavirus test and will join Leao and Saelemaekers in the 3 behind what is likely to be an Ibra start. Saelemaekers has been struggling and the much maligned right wing spot remains a weak point. Leao has done better this season, mostly. Kessie and Bennacer are likely going to start as pivots but Tonali is easily the most improved player this season and will be used here and as often as possible considering the over congested fixture list. A crucial Porto match is coming in the middle of the week.

Calabria, Tomori, Kjaer and Hernandez are the first choice back four and having them all available is important. The team needs to cut down on goals allowed and having a healthy defense should help. Of course Maignan remains absent and likely won’t be back until 2022. The French keeper’s number two hasn’t done poorly but Tatarusanu is a big drop in quality. He has managed well but doesn’t inspire the most confidence. Mirante signed earlier this month as an emergency back up most recently played for Roma but it doesn’t look like that he is going to be in line for a league (or Champions League) start.

Roma are missing Chris Smalling and Leonardo Spinazzola remains a long term absentee. The Mourinho led Roma sit in 4th spot and it is an almost guarantee that the Portuguese and former Inter coach will be an important part of this week 11 match.

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Ballo-Toure’s injury, after being stamped on by Roberto Soriano during the weekend, was bad enough to have him miss this midweek week 10 match versus Torino. Kalulu replaced him as the left back. Theo was back from COVID isolation but too late to be a starter. Diaz had tested negative the day of the match and of course not ready to be in the squad. Pellegri returned to the squad.

Andrea Belotti, subject of perpetual Milan rumours, started for Torino.

The first goal arrived in the 14th minute. A well taken Tonali corner was headed on by Krunic and Giroud lurked behind the defenders to divert it in. The early minutes were mainly advantage Milan in possession and movement. The defense doing well in tracking Belotti and other Torino attackers. Klaulu could perhaps do better when receiving and having the ball. Tonali continuing to show growth but still sometimes not there yet.

Neither team threatened much or did much with the ball the rest of the half, Milan came a bit closer to Torino’s goal than the visitors.

Kjaer and Theo replaced Romagnoli and Kalulu to start the second. Theo could force Torino’s Wilfried Singo back a bit as he was giving Kalulu a hard time.

Torino had a better start in the second and maintained possession well. Not long into the second Belotti came off for Antonio Sanabria. The Paraguay international has been solid in his short time in Turin.

Bakayoko and Bennacer came on for Tonali and Krunic in a bid to control the midfield and match better. Torino came close in the 75th minute on a counter that was poorly lost in midfield. Tatarusanu barely kept the ball out. Torino came cloe again in the 85th minute when a ball deflected and grazed the top of the bar. Milan players protested that a foul had to be called just before it. In between Milan struggled to bother Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in Torino’s goal. On the other side of the pitch Tomori continued to stop attackers and be a wall.

Ibra replaced Giroud in the final minutes. Fresh legs and impetus were helpful. Tatarusanu made a good punching stop in the final minute, the ball might have been going out but it was Torino who were threatening.

A 1-0 win was welcome three points, of course. For now Milan were alone atop of the Serie A standings.

Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1

1

Tătărușanu

2

Calabria

13

Romagnoli

23

Tomori

5

Ballo-Touré

79

Kessié

8

Tonali

56

Saelemaekers

33

Krunić

17

Leão

9

Giroud

Substitutes

The fixture list only gets busier now. A midweek Serie A game comes three days after Milan almost threw away three points and a win at Bologna. The team played a more solid first half and went ahead 2-0 in the Renato Dall’Ara. One man up and expected to cruise to a win the hosts tied it before losing another man and finally succumbing 4-2. The injury list has played its part but Milan are leaking goals and struggling to find wins.

The time is short for most or all of the injured players to return however Theo tested negative for COVID-19 and will be in the squad. Ballo-Toure could still be as starter if Theo needs more training time. Kessie could also return from the flu. Pellegri is healthy enough to be on the bench at least. The rest of the absentees are unlikely to come back but Diaz hopes to test negative for the weekend and perhaps Rebic can shake off the injury for the weekend as well.

Tatarusanu will start with Calabria, Tomori and Romagnoli with the aforementioned Ballo-Toure. Kjaer is likely to be rested. Kessie and Tonali edge out Bennacer and Bakayoko for the starting pivots. Saelemaekers will get another start, on the weekend Castillejo gor the start but hobbled off with an apparent hamstring injury. Krunic and Leao are the only options up top. The latter has shown an increasing number of flashes of class but needs to show them even more often. Ibra got a rare start and played the whole 90 and 30 of it with Giroud. The Frenchman is going to be starter this time.

The inconsistent Torino and apparently not very happy Belotti might be slowly getting used to a new coach in Ivan Juric. Newly arrived Antonio Sanabria is the new coach’s starting striker, for now, as Belotti is a strong candidate for a Bosman transfer nest summer. Milan will continue to be mentioned as a possible destination.

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Still reeling from a large injury list – all of Rebic, Kessie, Diaz, Theo, Maignan, Messias, Florenzi, Pellegri and Plizzari out – Milan set out to overcome Champions League disappointment with a visit to Bologna.

A mostly uneventful first 10 minutes changed somewhat with a higher pace and a half chance or two. A warning to Milan came when a Bologna corner was missed by all and Tatarusanu looked indecisive.

A goal came soon after. Leao beat Lukasz Skorupski from a narrow angle with an emphatic hard high shot, the goal came from an Ibra assist and a good Ballo-Toure interception before it. The ball took a deflection going in but the play was a good quick one. Bologna got into further trouble after Adama Soumaoro took down Krunic bursting straight onto the hosts’ goal. The ref gave a last man foul and red card to the Frenchman and VAR confirmed it.

Milan doubled their lead. A Ballo-Toure cross found its way to the edge of the box where and on rushing Calabria with plenty of room shot hard to make it 2-0. Calabria had another chance before half time but shot high.

The half time 2 goal lead was a very good one and in contrast to the first halves midweek at Porto and a week earlier versus Verona.

Two half time changes were made one for an injured Castillejo and another seemingly not. Saelemaekers and Bakayoko came into the game. Bologna scored very early in the second half. A Bologna corner was diverted into goal by Ibra, it looked as if he tried to get out of the way but headed the ball in. What looked like a loss of concentration Bologna managed to tie the game shortly after. A nice pass by Roberto Soriano found Musa Barrow who beat the central defender well and beat Tatarusanu somewhat easily.

More drama arrived when the referee used the pitch side monitor to confirm Soriano’s stamp on Ballo-Toure’s leg. The Bologna winger wasn’t far from breaking the Milan player’s ankle and was given a red. Giroud came on for Krunic to try to regain the lead. The team struggled considering the 2 man advantage. Giroud heading well in the 82nd minute was the next good Milan chance. Bennacer finally gave Milan the lead. Once again a Milan player found lots of room just outside the Bologna box and this time with a low shot into the far corner made it 3-2. Just before added time Ibra made it 4-2 with a curler. Bennacer had taken advantage of the room available to easily find the Swede.

Harder than it should have been – with Milan 2 man up – but three points and another win is a good end to a disappointing week.

Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1

1

Tătărușanu

2

Calabria

24

Kjær

23

Tomori

5

Ballo-Touré

4

Bennacer

8

Tonali

56

Saelemaekers

33

Krunić

17

Leão

11

Ibrahimović

Substitutes

The injury and unavailable list has grown even larger. The very poor showing at Porto in the Champions League was compounded by questionable refereeing and the list of absentees has grown to a baffling size for this week 9 match at Bologna.

The number of players out almost completes a whole 11 with Theo and Diaz both in COVID-19 isolation. Florenzi and Maignan recovering post surgery much like Messias and Plizzari. Kessie is out with the flu and Pellegri and Rebic have small knocks. The latter was hoping to recover from the injury suffered last week versus Verona but he needs a few more days.

So who is available? Can the team bounce back from the poor half or so versus Verona and the disappointing 90 at Porto? Looks like Tatarusanu will continue to be a starter with Mirante ready to step in. Calabria, Kjaer and Tomori will form the back four along side Ballo-Toure. The ex-Monaco man hasn’t looked a safe left back and a line up shuffle with Kalulu remains a possibility. Tonali and Bennacer will start in front of the back four. Castillejo came into the game versus Verona and managed a Man Of The Match performance, so much so that he was congratulated by his teams mates at the final whistle and was very emotional. He or Saelemaekers will start with Krunic and Leao behind Ibra. Krunic is pretty much the only viable attacking midfield option available for Pioli and Milan. Ibra should be ready for a start after several sub appearances. If not Giroud will start.

Bologna have had a mixed start to the new season in which they have lost 4-2 and 6-1 to Empoli and Inter respectively but have then beaten Lazio 3-0. Mihajlovic’s men sit in eighth place and feature Marko Arnautovic in attack this season. The controversial Austrian international returned to Europe after two years in China.

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Milan came back from a half time 0-2 deficit and beat Verona to maintain the unbeaten Serie A start. The Champions League has not be as kind. Controversial refereeing has done its part but zero points in two games has marked the return to Europe. In a group featuring Liverpool and Atletico beating Porto is a must. The first of two games versus the Portuguese is away and a handicapped Milan team need something if this European season is to continue beyond the end of the calendar year.

Beating Verona with more than a handful of absentees was a morale and confidence boost. Doing the same in the tournament Milan calls home would add even more.

The list of absentees added another name. Rebic is struggling with a foot problem and will miss the Portuguese trip. His absence is thought to be short term. Florenzi, Messias, Maignan, Hernandez and Diaz remain out but Bakayoko is ready to play, at least.

Ballo-Toure’s poor minutes versus Verona might exclude the French player from getting a second start in a row and there is speculation that Calabria will play as left back and therefore cede his right back spot to Kalulu. Kjaer looks to start in the middle of defense alongside Tomori with Romagnoli likely to return to the bench. In front of the defense Tonali will return to the starting line up with Bennacer. Kessie is suspended. The Ivorian was one of the victims of the aforementioned questionable refereeing decisions last month. Maldini underwhelmed in the weekend but Krunic is the only player available capable of being a nominal attacking midfielder. The Bosnian will play with Leao and Saelemaekers behind Giroud. Leao has looked closer to realizing his potential and can play a big part back in his home country.

Porto sit a point ahead of Milan in Group B and are second in the Primeira Liga behind Benfica. This past weekend they easily beat 3rd division Sintrense 5-0 in a cup game. 

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Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1

1

Tătărușanu

20

Kalulu

13

Romagnoli

23

Tomori

5

Ballo-Touré

79

Kessié

8

Tonali

56

Saelemaekers

27

Maldini

12

Rebić

9

Giroud

Substitutes

The Serie A season has started well and sees Milan sitting in second place and unbeaten. Controversial results and refereeing has seen Milan start 0 out of 2 in the team’s return to Champions League. The number one story exiting another international break however is the injury situation.

Milan fans have been waking up to one injury news after another. Florenzi and Messias went out for several weeks after barely featuring. Bakayoko much the same. Ibra has been a virtual absentee. Krunic more or less the same. But things got worse this week. First Theo entered COVID isolation then news arrived that Maignan needs wrist surgery. The injury is apparently the same that happened when Luis Suarez landed on the goalkeeper’s wrist, or even earlier. If so it begs the question on why he kept playing and even worse travelled with France to the Nations League games. At the end of the day it is likely he will be out for 2 months. With Plizzari also out long term Milan had to search for goalkeepers. One that could be signed as a free agent and aid Tatarusanu and Jungdal. In came Antonio Mirante. The 38 years old most recently spent three years at Roma and was without a club.

But there is more. Calabria and Maldini are not 100% and joining them on the sidelines was Brahim, due to COVID and Rebic for a relative minor issue. Maldini and Rebic – along with Krunic – could be well enough to start but the depth of the squad is as stretched as it can be.

Tatarusanu is likely getting the goalkeeping assignment and in front of him Kalulu, Romagnoli, Tomori and Ballo-Toure should be the starters. If Calabria passes a fitness test he could claim his starting spot. Tonali and Kessie are more likely keeping Bennacer on the bench. Saelemaekers extened his contract to 2026 and is going to start with Rebic and Maldini. All behind Giroud, another recent COVID recovered player.

Verona, with new coach Igor Tudor at the helm started very poorly losing three in a row but haven’t lost any of their last four Serie A games.

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