Milan is truly back! After the victories over Sassuolo and Chievo, more positive for the result than for the game expressed, another much heavier one came against Lazio and this yes, without a shadow of a doubt, is unanimously praised. The 3-1 at the Olimpico could mark an almost unthinkable turnaround until a few days ago: the standings are back to positive and the next round against Atalanta could make it even excellent.
Fifth place, albeit in cohabitation with Sassuolo, means watching the podium very closely (the leaders Inter and Fiorentina are only 5 points away) and this, in light of all the problems seen so far, is splendid news for the whole Rossoneri world . Pioli's Lazio, on the other hand, comes out downsized, who after the beatings away from home have also remedied one within the friendly walls of the Olimpico. The biancocelesti remain in full swing but certainly this defeat, unexpected in some ways, hurts and risks creating a lot of imbalances in view of the derby with Roma.
On the shields, this time more than ever, Sinisa Mihajlovic, finally able to win convincingly, without ifs and buts. “I don't know if he was the best Milan of the season but we certainly played an excellent match – she commented at the press conference. – I'm only sorry for the goal conceded but in any case, since we changed the game system, we risk little or nothing. This is the right path, we must continue to follow it. And if we win against Atalanta on Saturday then there could be a turning point”.
Compliments due for the Serbian technician, who went from "dead man walking" to chief commander in the space of a few weeks. After the 0-4 draw against Napoli his bench seemed hanging by a thread, then 4 consecutive useful results arrived (1 draw and 3 wins) and the Milan world, as if by magic, smiled at him again. This is also thanks to courageous choices, some of which go against the trend of Berlusconi's dictates.
The 4-3-3, as we know, is not much loved by the president, who would always like to see two forwards on the pitch, yet it has given balance and solidity to all departments. And then Donnarumma in goal, Alex in central defence, Cerci on the right wing: unpopular but successful decisions. It must also be said that the Olimpico was by no means a casual success: the team approached the match well from the start, so much so that Bertolacci's goal (25') was only the logical consequence of a technical and tactical dominance .
Things haven't changed even after the midfielder's injury: Poli, despite having different characteristics, has kept his performance unchanged. In the second half then the knockout with Mexes, he was Berlusconi's protégé, capable of scoring the 2-0 one minute after entering the field in place of the injured Alex (53'). Bacca took care of the triumph, very good at exploiting the spaces conceded by Lazio and scoring the sensational 3-0 goal. The masterful performances of Bonaventura (3 assists!) and Cerci (lots of movement and a splendid post) should also be underlined, which became fundamental in this 4-3-3 which, after giving away points, finally produced a good game.
Lazio? All in the final reaction that led to the goal of the flag (Kishna in the 84th minute). Too little for those who, until yesterday, had always dominated at home and who today find themselves forced to deal with worrying limits (more mental than technical). “I'm disappointed, we got it all wrong – Pioli's analysis. – It's a delicate moment but we'll be able to regroup, I'm sure of it. I hope the derby can restore our confidence, we have to recreate that environment which, last season, brought us to third place". For Lazio it will be a week full of tension, the same one that Milan experienced until a few days ago. Power of this crazy championship, capable of overturning the scenarios like no other in Europe.
