Escape trials. The tenth day begins today with three advances, two for salvation (Spezia-Genoa and Venice-Salernitana, both at 18.30) and one for the Scudetto. Milan-Torino (20.45) thus becomes the highlight of the evening, especially after the results of the last round, which allowed the Rossoneri to gain two points over Napoli and hook them at the top of the standings. A victory today, therefore, would be worth a leap forward, with the certainty of maintaining first place regardless of the response of the Azzurri against Bologna, who at most could make a hook.
Between saying and doing, however, there is the… Bull of Juric, back from the important success against Genoa and determined to spoil the festivities at San Siro. In short, a trap match, a bit like those against Verona and Bologna, actually won with great difficulty and heartaches, some even bigger than expected.
“The calendar is busy, competitiveness is high – he explained Pioli – Turin is strong, Juric is doing a great job. There are many important exams, but it is too early to say that we are at a crossroads, but we must try to face each game in the best possible way. Having said that, it's too early, nine days is nothing. However, it is right that the fans are happy and proud of this team, now let's think about this match and then the next one".
The rhythm is tight and the difficulties follow one another without stopping, but this Milan doesn't want to stop right now, not now that it has earned the lead in the standings. The biggest problem remains the injured, even if compared to Bologna Kessié and Hernandez will be back, the latter recovered from Covid and available at least for the bench. However, the list of unavailable players remains quite substantial, with Rebic, Diaz, Castillejo, Messias and long-term patients Maignan and Florenzi. Situation that has lasted for some time but which Pioli has learned to manage well, also thanks to the returns of Ibrahimovic and Giroud, still far from ideal form and yet already decisive.
"The last few were two special matches, when we need more physicality there's the possibility of putting in Ibra and Giroud - explained the Rossoneri coach - Both aren't 100% perfect, the important thing is that they give continuity both in training and in game". The attack remains the department with the most attention, also because, just on the eve of the match against Turin, the rumors about Belotti are back in vogue, his contract expiring and therefore a possible target as early as January (the grenade could go to Pobega, on loan from Milan).
However, all of this is of little interest to Pioli, who is much more focused on the match and on the very heavy points up for grabs. The midweek shift will force him into a bit of turnover, also because the calendar then foresees Roma, Porto and Inter in the space of a week. The mission involves obtaining victory by rotating the squad a bit, obviously net of the unavailable, so we should see a 4-2-3-1 with Tatarusanu in goal, Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli and Ballo-Touré in defense, Tonali and Kessié in midfield, Saelemaekers, Krunic and Leao in the frontline, Giroud in attack, with Ibrahimovic ready to take over from the bench.
“We face a super complete team with many modern players, who play very technical football – the analysis of Juric – Milan is perhaps a little fresher than Napoli, but I have to say that they are similar. We will have to be more concrete and have a bit more luck to get results, we want to win”.
Ambitious goal, in perfect harmony with the character of the grenade coach, determined to make a coup to give a definitive change to his season. The 3-4-2-1 del Toro will thus see Milinkovic-Savic between the posts, Djidji, Bremer and Buongiorno in the back department, Vojvoda, Lukic, Pobega and Aina in the midfield, Praet and Brekalo behind the lone striker Sanabria, again preferred to Belotti.
