Golden opportunity, second act. After last week's match against Turin, Milan have another chance to lock down fourth place and thus give meaning to their season. Merit of Atalanta, capable of stopping Lazio on Monday night (1-0, goal by Zapata in the 2nd minute) thus preventing them from overtaking the Rossoneri, albeit with one more match.
An opposite result would have put a lot of pressure on today's away match in Bologna (20.30 pm) but even so, if you look closely, there is only one result available: wasting another bonus to go to +4 on the fifth, in fact, would almost be unforgivable.
But Milan's reasons for winning in Bologna go beyond the standings: at stake, in fact, is the redemption of the fool in Athens, which brought Gattuso back into the crosshairs of critics. Together with him, in the dock, there is also that Gonzalo Higuain shadow of himself (he hasn't scored since October 28) and called to drag his teammates as early as this evening.
“I spoke to him, he's the first to be disappointed by the situation – admitted the Rossoneri coach – He has to give us more in terms of leadership, experience, we don't only need his goals but also his added value. Am I at risk? It's part of the game and it's right, vent about me but leave the boys alone ”.
Once again Rino puts his face forward for everyone and in his heart he probably hopes that the team will thank him on the pitch. Winning in Bologna becomes fundamental in terms of fourth place, but the problem is that the same can also be said of the home team, albeit for less noble goals.
The Gattuso-Inzaghi match takes the Milan fans back to the golden age of winning the Champions League, even if only for a few moments: the present, for both, is decidedly more stingy with joys and forces them to put friendship aside, at least for a evening. To date, the one who risks the most is Pippo, already one step away from being exonerated after the defeat at Empoli, but also Rino, following his elimination from the Europa League, certainly cannot be said to be calm.
In short, the Dall'Ara match could seal the fate of one of the two, which is why the tension will be high and the ball rather hot. Gattuso recovers Romagnoli and Musacchio but only for the bench: the risk of a relapse is still high and it is good not to rush things too much. The Rossoneri 4-4-2 will be the same as a week ago against Turin, so Donnarumma in goal, Calabria, Abate, Zapata and Rodriguez in defense, Suso, Kessie, Bakayoko and Calhanoglu in midfield, Higuain and Cutrone in attack.
Only one defection for Inzaghi but an important one: Pulgar, stopped by a muscle problem in his calf, won't be available. The Bologna coach will however confirm his 3-5-2 with Skorupski between the posts, Calabresi, Danilo and Helander in the back, Mattiello, Poli, Nagy, Orsolini and Dijks in the midfield to support the Santander-Palacio offensive duo.
