Week 5: Milan – Roma
On game day news arrived that Donnarumma and Hauge have tested positive for the Coronavirus, wish the players and other members of the team a speedy recovery. Summer arrival Tatarusanu is set to start vs Roma.
Milan made it four out of four to start the season and in the process beat Inter 2-1 in the derby. Ibra above all but many of the 11 continued their good form. Kjaer and Kessie were two of the more stand out players but the game itself wasn’t the most impressive and Theo was pinned back and struggled when facing Inter’s Achraf Hakimi. Romagnoli just back from a long injury layoff had his shares of struggles too. Pioli introduced Krunic in Leao’s place to give more support to the left side and it improved the balance eventhough Krunic’s use, even more so during the midweek win at Celtic, raised a few eyebrows. The 3-1 win in Scotland was equally not the most eye catching game. Calhanoglu missed it following spraining his ankle in training. His absence is said to be short term. In his absence Diaz did well and also scored. Hauge got his first Milan goal very late into the Europa League opener.
Diaz was in all likelihood to be Calhanoglu’s deputy for this week 5 match game but Krunic did play as an attacking midfielder against the Scottish champions and could push Diaz to the left. However Calhanoglu is reported to be ready as his ankle sprain has healed sooner than hoped. The other starter are predictable. with Kessie and Bennacer in front of Tatarusanu, Calabria, Kjaer, Romagnoli and Theo. Ibra will of course start and may even extend his 2020-2021 contract for another year and on current evidence that is not a bad thing. The search for depth and starters will resume in January and beyond but for now hosting Roma beckons. Milan are currently the only top five league team who haven’t lost yet and can make it five wins facing Roma who are winthout Chris Smalling (knee sprain), Amadou Diaware and Gianluca Mancini (COVID-19 isolation). The main threat will remain Edin Dzeko with support from Pedro Rodriguez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Follow the match as it happens on the forum.