Monthly Archive: March 2022

Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1

16

Maignan

2

Calabria

20

Kalulu

23

Tomori

19

Hernandez

4

Bennacer

79

Kessié

30

Messias

10

Díaz

17

Leão

9

Giroud

Substitutes

A narrow unspectacular win versus Empoli meant that Milan improved their top of the table standing. Inter dropped points in a tie at Torino and Milan now have their destiny in their own hands with a 3 point lead over Napoli and a 4 point lead over Inter, who have game in hand.

The nine finals left cliche is now fully on and starts at 17th placed Cagliari. The squad is relatively healthy but question marks are always there. There are some whispers that Romagnoli might reclaim his starting spot from week 29 goal scoring hero Kalulu. That seems unlikely but Tomori, Hernandez and Calabria are more certain starters although the latter’s form has regressed in recent weeks. Further up Tonali and Bennacer would be first choice but the former has been ill most of the week and may cede his place to Kessie. The soon to be ex-Milan player could have started in a nominally more advanced role but will return to his more familiar double pivot role. Diaz should be healthy enough to start where he normally does with Leao on his left and Messias on his right. Right wing remains a problem spot and once again many fans hope it is going to be addressed in the summer.

Ibra was thought to be ready for a start but late word is Giroud has a better chance to keep his recent place. Ibra will surely make a sub appearance some time in the game.

Cagliari have lost two in a row after going unbeaten in five before it. Injuries have taken a toll on the Sardinians and the team is now in a relegation fight.

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

At a time when many leagues in Europe have seen the title race fizzle out into a dull affair, the Italian Serie A promises to be quite different. AC Milan’s 1-0 win over Napoli has firmly put Milan back in the race for the title. Stefano Pioli’s men are a couple of points ahead of the chasing pack, which comprises of Napoli and Inter Milan, whilst having played a game more. The late winner from Olivier Giroud, who signed for peanuts from Chelsea, might grow to be the decisive point in the title race. Even though Milan have taken a lead for the time being, the Italian Serie A race this season promises to be the most interesting of the lot, as per odds on betstation.com.

After years of failing to sustain a title challenge throughout the season, Napoli are finally showing signs of promise in the 2021-22 season. Inter appeared to be a dominant force only for the team to go through a dull patch of form in recent weeks. The Nerazzurri still have the title race in their own hands, but it is unmistakable that they have lost momentum. Napoli will be able to come back into the title race despite the home defeat, but whether they have the heart to recover from a Europa League exit and the loss to Milan remains to be seen. Even though the team managed a victory over Lazio, there were plenty of moments where Napoli struggled big-time.

Even though Inter Milan were going through a difficult patch of form, the club has certainly put an end to the same with back-to-back wins. The midweek win over Liverpool might not have helped Inter get into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but it gives them in a very good spot as far as bringing them back to the top of the table. The form of Lautaro Martinez will be a huge boost for Inter.

Perhaps, one of the deciding factors in the title race could have been the potential continuation of European games for two of the three clubs in the form of Napoli and Inter. However, both teams dropping out of Europe means that Milan do not have a big advantage on this front.

Even though the focus happens to be entirely on the trio of AC Milan, Napoli, and Inter Milan, it would also be extremely wrong to rule out Juventus from making a push for the title. The recent win over Spezia means that Juventus are unbeaten in the league since the loss to Atalanta back in November.

Juventus are seven points away from the top and expecting two teams to drop points between now and the end of the season is the only sticking point. Juventus also have Champions League commitments that come their way with a game against Villarreal. Depending on the result against the Spanish outfit, Juventus can end up in the latter stages of the competition which can further take away their concentration from the league title race.

All these put AC Milan in a very good spot to pick up the first league title since the days of Massimiliano Allegri in the 2010-11 campaign.

Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1

16

Maignan

2

Calabria

20

Kalulu

23

Tomori

25

Florenzi

8

Tonali

4

Bennacer

30

Messias

79

Kessié

17

Leão

9

Giroud

Substitutes

Following disappointing points dropped versus Udinese and Salernitana many feared that the team’s surge into the top of the Serie A standings would end. A visit to Napoli who had not lost a Serie A game since late 2021 did not look like the best setting to rebound. Milan did however. Pioli’s men endured a sometimes too physical game and came away with the three points from Maradona Stadium. Being on top with 10 games left puts a team in a favorites for title position but are Milan ending their Scudetto drought? The final push starts with Empoli.

Theo will be missing the start of this final stretch due to yellow cards accumulation. Whether Ballo-Toure starts in his place or one of Calabria or Florenzi switch to the left is one question heading in to the weekend. Most would agree that the Senegalese should stay on the bench. Maignan in goal with Kalulu and Tomori as central defenders is a certainty for now. The midfield pivots are also close to a certainty especially since it seems that Pioli is set to give Kessie another chance to play as a middle man in the 4-2-3-1. The oft-used formation looked more like a 4-3-3 with Kessie tracking and dropping closer to the pivots when facing Napoli.

Ibra is healthy and came on as a late sub last week but Giroud, currently in excellent form and brushing aside the number 9 curse, will start again. The French forward looked to have injured his leg badly from a Koulibaly challenge but stayed in the match. He has been one of the catalysts of Milan’s season along side Leao. The Portuguese could be close to extending his Milan contract but rumours of big bids are inevitable for the player who has become one of Serie A’s best wingers. Messias should start in the right wing spot as he remains more convincing than the only other option in Saelemaekers.

Empoli were looking promising earlier in the season but their last win was in December before Milan’s 4-2 win at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.

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

Milan dropped more points. Week 27’s 1-1 tie versus Udinese didn’t exactly have the same look and feel as the 2-2 tie at Salernitana before it but the end result was the same unwelcome set back. Leao – him again – gave Milan a first half lead but the second half was not a winner and Milan lost ground to Napoli. Unexpectedly Inter dropped points at Genoa to keep it tight near the top. The midweek brought a better game – versus Inter in the Coppa Italia semi final first leg – but the 0-0 felt like an anticlimax.

Inter opened this week 28’s fixtures with a 5-0 win versus Salernitana and in the process dented Milan’s hopes even further. A more or less healthy team travels to Napoli hoping to keep up with the leading pack while keeping an eye on the (somewhat undeservedly) climbing Juventus not far behind.

Romagnoli came off injured versus Inter in what seemed to be thigh issue but is seemingly healthy enough for the bench. Kalulu and Tomori did well to finish the game in central defense and both are providing assured performances. Calabria and Theo will play around them but if called upon the right side has another quality man in Florenzi. Bennacer and Tonali are looking good as pivots almost relegating Kessie to the bench for good. The Ivorian’s final weeks as a Milan player are approaching and he may be used as a more advanced midfielder in this and future weeks. Leao and Messias are surely the preferred wingers ahead of Rebic and Saelemaekers. Giroud or, if he ever gets healthy again, Ibra will play up front. There is not much of a chance of Lazetic getting a game any time soon. Ibra may hang up his boots as early as this summer but only he will know if he must stop.

Napoli have don well to stay at or near the top of the table all season. Toronto bound Lorenzo Insigne may yet win the Scudetto before leaving for Canada.

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

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