Monthly Archive: November 2021

Milan 1-3 Sassuolo Notes On A Worrying Home Loss

Milan Sassuolo

Maignan was back starting way ahead of schedule. The line up was also changed elsewhere, at least partially due to the extremely busy fixture list. Bakayoko and Bennacer started as pivots and Florenzi at right back.

The early minutes were dominated by Milan and resulted in three Ibra offsides and one Theo offside. Chances were squandered until a well worked corner kick had Romagnoli head in at the near post. Andrea Consigli was unable to keep the captain’s header out.

The game turned after that. Bakayoko didn’t control the ball well. Ginaluca Scamacca picked up the ball and with lots of space shot hard into the top corner of the goal. Maignan barely moved. Sassuolo scored again. An unnecessary corner given away by Bennacer was not cleared. The same Scamacca, free again, shot at Maignan and the rebound rebounded back into goal off of Kjaer’s back. The visitors were controlling the game and half ended with Milan’s game plan in limbo.

Messias and Kessie came on for Diaz and Bakayoko to start the second. Little looked changed – with one notable difference that Saelemaekers would pop up in a left midfield position. The team looked wasteful and clumsy. Tonali came on for Bennacer a bit later.

Ibra had a shot miss the far side in the 63rd minute. But it was Sassuolo that scored next. Kessie cleared poorly then gave away the ball seconds later. Romagnoli fell on himself trying to defend Berardi and the latter beat Maignan. Another Milan shot barely missed. Pellegri came on for Florenzi in search for offense.

The collapse was made official when Romagnoli was unable to deal with Gregoire Defrel in a 1v1 situation and brought the attacker down. He was sent off and his well documented weakness was in plain view. The midfield was of no help to the defenders. Kalulu replaced Saelemaekers to finish the game.

The manner of the 1-3 home loss had many justifiably worried. The busy schedule would provide little time for recovery.

Week 14: Milan – Sassuolo

Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1
16
Maignan
25
Florenzi
13
Romagnoli
24
Kjær
19
Hernandez
4
Bennacer
79
Kessié
56
Saelemaekers
10
Díaz
17
Leão
11
Ibrahimović
Substitutes

Milan have retained their second spot tied with Napoli. The form has held up for the most part despite an ugly perpetual and revolving injury list. Pioli has gotten a deserved contract extension that still would be preferably dealt with in the offseason but it is norm as it is. Milan also got a deserved win over Atletico in the Champions League. The win gives the team a small chance to qualify for the knockout rounds. Liverpool and indeed Porto and Atletico stand in way.

The aforementioned revolving and extensive injury list now includes Calabria, Rebic, Giroud and Castillejo. The former three will be out well into December if not January. Miraculously Maignan has rejoined the team and his mentioned January return is well ahead of schedule. Tomori is struggling with injury and tiredness and may not feature at all. Romagnoli and Kjear will be the central defenders with Hernandez on the left and Florenzi on the right. There are calls for the improving Kalulu to be give the right back spot but Pioli may have other thoughts. The historically busy fixture list may have something to do with the coach’s choices as the midfield could feature Bakayoko but will likely remain Kessie and Bannacer. Leao, much like the rest of his team mates, must be exhausted but there are little other options and he is set to start with Diaz and Saelemaekers behind Ibra. Junior Messias chose the big stage – A Champions League night at the San Siro vs Atletico – to score his first Milan goal and may earn the right to start in the Belgian’s place.

The struggling Sassuolo are led by Domenico Berardi, once again. The team has not fared poorly against Milan but that has shifted in recent meetings.

Follow the match as it happens, on the forums.

Milan 1-1 Inter Notes On A Questionable Refereeing Derby Tie

Milan Inter Notes

Milan started with Diaz as a nominal right winger and Krunic as an attacking midfielder. It was to be seen if the line up choice was to work. A somewhat fast paced start had both teams roaming the pitch.

A first goal came for Inter. A clumsy Kessie tried to elude two Inter markers and moved towards Milan’s goal. Calhanoglu’s leg got tangled with Kessie and the referee pointed towards the penalty spot. VAR confirmed it. It was yet another bizarre exhibition in refereeing as a player in control of the ball was judged to have committed a foul. Few unbiased observers would be explain that. The replay showed that Calhanoglu’s leg was the first to move in between Kessie’s. The former Milan player converted the penalty.

The equalizer arrived soon after. A Tonali freekick was met with Tomori whose header glanced off Stefan De Vrij’s head and went in.

Further action followed. Ballo-Toure misjudged a ball and missed the Inter player. Scrambling back his foot made contact with the Inter player a second before the ball. Lautaro took on the penalty this time but his shot was saved by Tatarusanu. So it remained 1-1 and the game remained tense and on the edge of more controversy. In the dying minutes Ballo-Toure made a goal line clearance off the line to keep the score 1-1 at half time.

Kalulu came on for Ballo-Toure at half time. To Put the former in as left back was risky. Inter were the more dangerous team early on. Tonali was putting in the effort that his growing stardom shows. Saelemaekers and Rebic came on for Diaz and Leao in the 59th minute as Inter were getting corner after corner and each were being taken by Calhanoglu. Bennacer later replaced Tonali as Inter were having the better chances and Kalulu made a crucial block to save a possible Arturo Vidal, an Inter sub, goal. A freekick in the 82nd minute had Ibra force a Samir Handanovic near side low save. Bakayoko then replaced Krunic. Milan showed more urgency in the final minutes and there were several scrambling plays in the Inter box. Saelemaekers hit the post late, with Handanovic nowhere near the ball, and the rebound was wasted by Kessie.

Amid more questionable calls the derby ended 1-1.

Week 12 Derby della Madonnina

Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1
1
Tătărușanu
2
Calabria
24
Kjær
23
Tomori
5
Ballo-Touré
8
Tonali
79
Kessié
56
Saelemaekers
33
Krunić
17
Leão
11
Ibrahimović
Substitutes

The first Milan derby of the 2021-2022 season features Milan seven points and one place ahead of Inter in the standings. The Serie A form that has Milan a team record unbeaten in 11 to start the season will be tested against Inter. Unlike the city rivals Milan has managed the form with an all too big injury list. As of today the injury list is easing with Florenzi, Rebic and Diaz back in the squad. However, Maignan remains a key long term absentee.

A double yellow at Roma has another key piece missing. Theo’s clumsiness will mean that either Ballo-Toure or Kalulu will start. The latter has seemed very uncomfortable as a left back and if he is to start it is probably a wise move to let Calabria be the left back. Tomori and Kjaer have been mostly excellent and are the most likely starters in front of Tatarusanu. The Romanian keeper is not exactly the best or safest ball handler but has done as well as to be expected.

Partly due to the seemingly never ending injury situation the double pivots in front of the back four have rarely been a constant this season. Kessie and Tonali are the more likely starters for this Derby della Madonnina. With Castillejo out with an injury the only alternative for the right wing position remains Saelemaekers. The Belgian has been sub par and right wing remains the team’s weak point. Krunic looks to be favoured to Diaz for the middle attacking spot. Only Pioli is confident of this choice. Leao will play the left wing position. The Portuguese has shown flashes of talent but one feels he can do a lot more. When actually playing – and perhaps even as a motivational force on the bench – Ibra has been more convincing than Giroud and will want to start against Inter. If healthy and in shape he will.

Inter feature former Milan player in Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turkish international hasn’t impressed too many people and has been in and out of the Inter lineup. His form against Milan would be interesting to see, if he takes on a free kick even more so. Inter feature far more solid players than the Milan’s former midfielder though. The likes of Nicolo Barella, with a newly extended contract, and Marcelo Brozovic can hurt most teams and so can Lautaro Martinez, another who extended his contract recently with a relatively team friendly salary of €6 million.

Simone Inzaghi is still getting settled at Inter, the opportunity to extend the distance to third place and reverse the course of recent derbies should be taken. Forza Milan.

Follow the match as it happens, on the forum.

Champions League Match Day 4: Milan – Porto

Milan Porto

The return leg and match day four versus Porto represents a chance for Milan to get something out of this Champions League season. Milan played poorly two weeks ago in Porto and lost by one goal. Refereeing errors have not helped Milan in any of the these matches so far but Milan didn’t exactly excel vs Atletico or Liverpool. In any event Milan needs the three points here.

The injury list is still long and Maignan is missed in goal. Kessie returns from Champions League suspension for this one. Theo who got a red in the weekend and is to miss the derby next weekend needs to have good game for Milan to have a better chance for the points.

While Kjaer and Tomori seem to be the preferred Serie A starters these Champions League games offer a chance for Romagnoli as the more likely partner for Tomori. He will give Kjaer a chance to rest. The same could be said about Tonali. The young Italian was on the bench on the weekend but could start versus Porto. It is also very important that Diaz is available. The attacking department is somewhat handicapped even with all players healthy so he was missed when out in COVID-19 isolation.

Porto are doing well in the their domestic league and have a star in the making in Luis Diaz. The 24 years old Colombian was man of the match two weeks ago.

Follow the match as it happens, on the forum.