Week 16: Milan – Monza

Milan managed to squeeze out a Europa League spot by beating Newcastle. To some Milan fans that would count as an anticlimax of sorts. Champions League is what Milan is about and the prospect of somewhat meaningless Europa League midweek games doesn’t necessarily spark excitement. The extra revenue and coefficients are the obvious positives of course. The last minute loss to Atalanta last weekend had dampened the atmosphere and the continuing injuries and questionable tactics continue to define Pioli and the team overall. Perhaps Ibra’s return as a senior advisor to RedBird can ignite something within the team, time will tell what the Swede’s role higher up on the team’s echelon can have on the team itself.

Lorenzo Colombo and Matteo Pessina led Monza visit Milan in another Lombardy region matchup. Leading up to this week 16 match there have been various predictions for the lineup Pioli will choose. Will Theo continue to play a central role or move back to the left is probably the number one question. Bartesaghi can play on the left but will he? Calabria is suspended for this match and it makes the back line choices even less predictable. There has even been one report featuring Pobega as a defender. Up front Giroud as isolated as ever at Atalanta but managed to get on the scoresheet. Leao had several good moment but they were all wasted or misplayed in the end. Jovic scored again and perhaps deserves more minutes. The scudetto race is fading fast but a relatively light schedules needs to be taken advantage of. After meeting Galliani’s men Milan before traveling to Salernitana, hosting Sassuolo, meeting Cagliari in the Coppa Italia and then traveling to Empoli to finish the first half of the Serie A season.

Follow this match and more on the forum.