Milan are coming off a somewhat disappointing midweek draw at Dortmund in Champions League but on the domestic side, Milan earned 9 out of 9 points last week and are looking to continue their hot league form. To do so they will need to travel to Genoa and take on a surprisingly tough recently promoted side. Milan can do it but they need to come ready to play.
Let’s go!
LAST FIVE
MILAN: DWWWD
GENOA: DWLDL
FORMATIONS
MILAN (4-3-3): Maignan; Hernández (C), Tomori, Thiaw, Florenzi; Reijnders, Adli, Musah; Okafor, Jovic, Chukwueze
GENOA (4-4-2): Martinez; Vasquez, Dragusin, Bani (C), De Winter; Haps, Thorsby, Frendrup, Sabelli; Gudmundsson, Malinovsky
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 2:45m EST/7:45pm GMT
PLACE: Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy
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:
Milan lacked their finishing boots in Champions League again midweek but they have not had the same bad luck in Serie A, as they sit third in goals scored, tied with Fiorentina and 4 less than top-scoring Inter. Genoa, to their credit, have returned to Serie A and not played boring football and are trying to win their way to top-flight-safety.
Genoa have played open and unafraid and not even an opening 4-1 loss to Fiorentina have deterred them. After that loss they have yo-yoed a little bit but have already stolen points from Lazio, Napoli, and Roma, going 2-1-0 vs those three top 4 contenders. A loss to Torino was somewhat of a letdown but not their 1-0 defeat to a tough Lecce side. All of this is to say that Milan cannot take this game lightly if they hope to return home with all 3 points.
Genoa are paced by Albert Gudmundsson, who came and stayed through Genoa’s relegation to Serie B, and young Italian striker Mateo Retegui, each with 3 goals so far this campaign. Retegui in particular has turned some heads being Italian in an Italian league and in a country desperate for quality attacking options up top for the national team. In the midfield, Morten Frendrup pulls the strings and already has 3 assists under this belt, so definitely someone Milan will want to neutralize.
Other familiar names, if not exactly dominate forces these days, you might remember are Kevin Strootman (I remember Milan being linked to him!), Ruslan Malinovsky as his rocket leg, and say it with me…former delivery-driver-turned-professional-footballer Junior Messias. I’m not really worried about any of these guys but I’d be lying if the former Milan player curse hasn’t popped in my head while writing this…
Ok, some quick things I’ll be looking for:
- Who starts and how quickly will players get subbed out? With an international break coming…where I’m sure at least one Milan player will get injured, what does Pioli do here? Clearly how the game is going will impact this but does he rotate a lot to start? Sub early and often. Tough to know with that international break looming
- Okafor is expected to start and does he continue to make the case that he should be starting? Another goal and/or quality effort and I can tell you I’m sold!
- Does Tomori continue his hot form? Guy has looked GOOD
- Should Theo sit completely? He hasn’t looked the best the last few games and it’s impacted him and the team, especially getting forward plus he’s one yellow away from suspension and Juventus awaits after the break
I think Pioli comes out, sits initially and absorbs what might be an excited Genoa, then attacks and goes for the kill around the 15th-20th minute looking to sew this up by halftime. Will it work out that way?…I’m going to say kinda. I think Milan goes into the half with a 1-0 lead but ends up winning 2-0 or 2-1.
Forza Milan
gillis