Week 36: Verona – Milan
It didn’t look easy and Fiorentina made it difficult for Milan to get into the game with a sometimes physical game. Tactically Milan are not a surprise and the left side with Leao and Theo was both the attacking focus and Fiorentina’s double teaming or overloading Milan’s aforementioned players. in the end Leao managed to just beat Pietro Terracciano in Fiorentina’s goal minutes after Ibra had come on and was attracting the attention of Fiorentina’s defenders.
Milan enter the final three games of the season visiting Verona and with a two point lead over Inter. On paper Milan’s schedule looks tougher with games versus Atalanta and Sassuolo to come while Inter play Cagliari and Sampdoria after hosting Empoli this weekend. Inter also have a Coppa Italia final versus Juventus to contend with on May 11th. Owning the tie break with the city rivals might come handy.
Little surprise is expected in the starting 11. The back four is more or less settled and the goalkeeper of course even more so. Maignan will start behind Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori and Hernandez. Change might yet happen in the summer if Sven Botman arrives from Lille but Milan’s defensive record has been one of the best in recent weeks and months. The double pivots will likely remain Bennacer and Tonali, especially with Kessie being used slightly ahead as a nominal attacking midfielder. Diaz’s performance has not anything noteworthy and he might not regain his starting spot at all. Leao is the not always at his best but he has done more than enough to be a crucial member of the team. Rumours of big bids for the Portuguese won’t go away unless he accepts Milan’s contract extension offer. On the other wing Milan’s perpetual problem remains but for now Messias is likely a better attacking weapon than Saelemaekers. Giroud will start up front with Ibra coming in in the second half.
Verona are a well coached not easily beaten team but while they have a small shot at European football next season their 9th place standing makes that unlikely. Three games left does not give them too much time to climb to seventh and a chance at the UEFA Conference League.
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