Two worry-free victories. Milan and Roma had the absolute obligation of the 3 points and they obtained them, albeit with the usual limits which, until today, have characterized their respective paths. The successes against Verona and Sassuolo, although profoundly different in terms of methods and dimensions, do not in fact erase the problems of two teams still far from the so-called "squaring the circle".
The Rossoneri, in particular, show enormous difficulties in constructing an offensive game, as evidenced by the effort, at times even inexplicable, in beating a numerically disadvantaged Verona for over 70'. There are cases in which the result is the only good thing to save and Bentegodi's away match is one of them. The 1-0 final, signed by Piatek from a penalty, is worth a big step forward in the standings but certainly not in terms of play: Giampaolo's "head held high and let's play football" is still a utopia.
And to think that the match seemed to have gone downhill in the 21st minute when Stepinski, in his first time in Hellas shirt, entered Musacchio in a disorderly way, getting a silly but inevitable red card. AC Milan, deployed with a front-wheel drive 4-3-2-1 (Paquetà and Suso behind Piatek), however entered a spiral of predictability and almost inexplicable slowness, so much so that the only real goal in the first half was of Verona with Verre, whose shot gave Donnarumma shivers. The consequence of such impalpability was the entry of Rebic in place of Paquetà, identified by Giampaolo as the worst and therefore rejected in no uncertain terms.
Indeed, in the second half, the Rossoneri managed to crush their opponents more, without however finding the right balance: for a post from Calabria (57', shot from distance), here was that of Verre (60'), demonstrating far from obvious game. In the 64th minute there was the decisive episode with Gunter blocking a shot by Calhanoglu with his arm, for a sacrosanct penalty converted by Piatek, who scored again after a fast that lasted since last May 19th.
Finished emotions? Not a chance. In the 83rd minute, the Var choked the Pole's 2-0 roar in the throat (foul on the goalkeeper) but above all, in full recovery, denied a possible penalty to Verona for an intervention by Calabria on Pessina: direct red for the full-back and free-kick from the edge, a choice that turned out to be correct in the light of the replays. In short, great suffering, but also 3 points that can help Giampaolo prepare for the derby with greater serenity.
“Verona played their honest defensive game, we had our trend ahead, there are things to improve but the victory is positive, it helps us to work – the coach's analysis at the press conference. – I don't sweep the dust under the carpet, I don't hide behind the positive result, I tell the team what needs to be improved. However, I believe that we are working well and that there is still considerable room for growth".
Sunday full booty also for Roma, finally victorious in this championship. The match at the Olimpico was decidedly more pyrotechnic than that at the Bentegodi, as can be seen from the final result, a 4-2 seasoned with posts and wrong chances, some sensational. For a time we saw a spectacular Roma, just as Fonseca believed: high pressing, speed, technique and game schemes.
It is no coincidence that, after just 33', the match score read 4-0 for the Giallorossi, a real festival of goals opened by Cristante (12') and enriched by all the starting forwards (19' Dzeko, 22' Mkhitaryan, 33 Kluivert). However, in the second half, after Pellegrini's post and Dzeko's crossbar, the usual defensive limits emerge, not so much in Berardi's splendid free-kick in the 4-1 (53'), but in the doubling of the black-green winger himself (72').
A small drawback on a day of celebration, God forbid, but of course Roma just can't help but conceding goals and this, in sensation, is a problem that they will carry with them throughout the season, with the knowledge that they will not always be found cheerful defenses like De Zerbi's.
“The key point of our game is high pressing, if we manage to do it well we reduce the risks even behind – replied Fonseca. – We scored four goals but could have scored eight, against a very good team that likes to have the ball. We didn't do badly defensively either, it was the best game so far in this respect as well." Milan and Roma bring home 3 golden points, there's no doubt about that. To understand where they can actually arrive, however, many confirmations will still be needed.
