Week 26: Salernitana – Milan

The last time Milan lost a game it was to a team that is near the bottom of the table. In the meanwhile Milan tied and beaten Juventus, Inter, Lazio and Sampdoria to go to the top of the table. Visiting a last placed team must produce a win but recent and not so recent history makes it less than certain.

The team is still missing Ibra. The Swede has posted videos of himself doing exercises that defy any age but is nevertheless not available for game action yet. Giroud has done better than most expected in his place and will be called upon again. Messias or Saelemaekers makes for less than convincing right wing options but one or the other will be starting for now and perhaps even longer. Diaz has shown good signs and will continue behind the striker. Leao is a fast rising star and it hoped the left winger will sign an extension soon.

The two pivots are more complicated or perhaps not. Tonali is another rising star and Bennacer is slowly regaining form. Should both start? Bakayoko may get a chance against a so called weaker team and Kessie might still get minutes before his almost certain summer departure.

At the back Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli and Theo are the starters with Kalulu ready for minutes. Maignan in goal is yet another of the rising stars on a team whose value has increased a lot this season. If it can keep up the pace and finish as high as second again the summer could see two or more reinforcements. Dreams of finishing first are surely just that, dreams.

Salernitana – another team under new ownership – fired Stefano Colantuono and hired Davide Nicola (Torino, Udinese, Genoa, etc) in his place. The team might get a new coach bump. Further danger signs for Milan’s less than perfect record against lowly teams.

There is always more about this and all Milan matches on the forums.