These games are starting to come in by the bushel! Up next is recently-promoted Cagliari and while they haven’t lit Serie A on fire, the long trip and an eye towards Lazio on the weekend makes this game a potential trap-game. Let’s hope Pioli has his men ready to go!
LAST FIVE
MILAN: WDLWW
CAGLIARI: LDLLD
FORMATIONS
MILAN (4-3-3): Sportiello; Hernández (C), Tomori, Thiaw: Florenzi; Reijnders, Adli, Loftus-Cheek; Pulisic, Okafor, Chukwueze
CAGLIARI (3-5-2): Radunovic; Hatzidiakos, Dossena, Wieteska; Augello, Sulemana, Makoumbou, Nandez (C), Zappa; Luvumbo, Petagna
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 12:30m EST/5:30pm GMT
PLACE: Unipol Domus, Cagliari
WHERE TO WATCH:
Paramount+ and FuboTV here in the US of Aye and Canada, BeIn for our Aussie pals, ESPNPlay for our fellas in T&T, JioTV for our Indian leoni, and illegal streams that support dictators and oligarchs everywhere.
*Let us know if this needs updating*
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
A rotation rinse-and-repeat? I think so as it looks like Milan will rest a few starters again this match, with Leão and Giroud expected to sit and needing to replace an injured Krunic. I’ve seen a few different guesses as to what the starting lineup will look like but don’t expect that discombobulated 3-4-3 formation we saw last time out.
I won’t try and predict what’s going to happen because there’s going to be too many new pieces playing together to know but here are a few questions I’m asking myself about today’s lineup and match:
- What and how is Pioli going to play the DM now that Krunic is out? There’s been plenty of speculation about Adli getting his first start of the season (and in a long time) and if he does start, how does this look? He’s obviously more playmaker than destroyer so who’s going to help protect and cover the backline? RLC has the size to do it but that’s not what he wants or likes to do. If not Adli, then who?
- It finally looks like Giroud is going to sit and while I would’ve liked to see Jovic there to start, rumor has it on from the interwebs that he’s not 100% fit and won’t (or didn’t) make the trip. So, all signs point to Okafor starting. Which is fine! How does his inclusion change how Milan plays in the final third? He’s obviously more athletic/less target-man than Giroud so will this make the front 3 more dynamic? I’ll be watching the movement and spacing by the forwards and how they open up lanes for each other
- If Leão does sit then Pulisic will move to his preferred LW role and Chukwueze comes in at RW. Does this mean Milan will play wider than they do with Leão of late? Pulisic likes to cut in like Leão so maybe not on the left but I really like the possibility of Chukwueze and Florenzi (who’s expected to start at RB) making overlapping runs, with Florenzi providing the width (and whipping in a cross or two) and stretching out the opponent and giving room for Chukwueze to cut inside
- What will Pioli do with Reijnders? He hasn’t been bad but he’s not providing the spark I think we all expected. If Pulisic starts then I don’t think he needs to play as far forward or at least can’t occupy the same space. What’s his role if Adli plays? Lots of unknowns here
Alright, just a few thoughts I have about the match and what I’ll be looking for today. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, our very own Roberto Palma joined Lisi for the Round 6 Whip-Around. Give it a read to get their insights on all the action this round and if you’re the betting type, there’s some tasty betting nuggets in there as well.
Forza Milan
gillis