Week 16: Bologna – Milan, Europa Exit And More Disappointment

Follow the match as it happens, on the forum.

The disappointing 0-0 home tie vs Torino featured an encouraging performance by Donnarumma who maybe cutting down on his mistakes. Defensively the make shift Abate and Zapata central partnership has done better than most hoped. Most other aspects of the team were the disappointments however and none more so than Calhanoglu who at this point doesn’t deserve starts. Higuain’s future may lie away from the San Siro, perhaps at Chelsea and being reunited with Maurizio Sarri, and it is perhaps best because it is far from working out at Milan. At least at what is now almost one half of a season.

The perhaps mixed reaction to the Torino match was to turn much more sour in midweek with a 3-1 loss at Olympiacos. The exit from the Europa League at the group stage is perhaps as bad as any of the setbacks of the last few years. The Suso less Milan offered little, missed chances and gave too much space to the Greek team. At least now the team will have a less crowded fixture list in the winter and spring. Leonardo and Maldini have much to ponder and they will attempt to inject much needed creativity with Fabregas still on the radar.

For this unusual Tuesday Serie A match Suso is still missing and predictions that Calhanoglu is getting another start fly in the face of the shockingly poor form of the player. Castillejo, for one, showed more pace and work ethic in the last week and deserves to start in that spot but he will serve as a vice Suso instead. Cutrone and Higuain have both underwhelmed recently and need to find themselves quickly. In midfield Bakayoko has improved bit by bit but Kessie has been another to deserve question marks and the wrath of fans. The midfielder’s ball control and decision making have been below par. On defence Romagnoli and Musacchio should be ready for bench duty, but both may start in the upcoming three matches after this Bologna encounter and before the January break.

Bologna are led by Pippo Inzaghi at his first season as coach of the rossoblu, the team is struggling and sits in the relegation spots. The former Milan star may not be safe and could be fired if this match doesn’t go his team’s way.