Week 35: Juventus – Milan The Fight For CL Places
The season is nearing its end and the once dream of Champions League places, never mind the Scudetto, are in tatters. Despite the 2-0 win vs Benevento last wekk Milan is in danger of missing a top 4 spot. There is currently a three way tie between Milan, Juventus and Atalanta with Napoli lurking around. Milan is yet to play Atalanta away as well this week 35 match. These last games are all make or break.
Juventus are not exactly in great form but then neither is Milan. The Milan squad is at least healthy and it needs to be because Juventus is too with Chiesa and Morata back and ready. In the home leg of this tie earlier in the season Chiesa starred and totally dominated Romagnoli and Theo on Milan’s left. Further up on the left side Hauge was of little help in that match and the Norwegian has rarely featured this season.
It is possible and seems likely that Tomori will get a start again in Romagnoli’s palce and partner with Kjaer. Theo and Calabria will be the full backs and will need to keep defensive discipline. Bennacer and Kessie will remain the pivots. There is some questions up front. News of the week said that Pioli will try a 4-4-2 with Ibra up top and Diaz as a pseudo or false forward. Whether that will materialize in game play or not it is some what controversial to prefer Diaz to Rebic and even Leao. It is looking like an experiment of sorts to play both Diaz and Calhanoglu (with Saelemaekers). The two playmakers together on the pitch has been tried before with questionable results.
As mentioned, the Juventus squad is relatively healthy as well and Pirlo will make a case for remaining the Old lady’s coach if his team manages to grab a Champions League spot at Milan’s expense. Perhaps his team will snap up Donnarumma from Milan as well. At least now that Inter have clinched the Scudetto the Juventus era in Serie A is indeed over.
Follow the match as it happens, on the forum.