With Dortmund-Newcastle kicking off early today, Milan will know what’s at stake when they take the pitch. A win obviously goes a long way but it could mean even more if Dortmund-Newcastle draw. But that’s out of Milan’s hands. What IS in their hands is this game. Milan needs to come ready because the opponent demands it and so does the current situation within the group.
Milan is about as healthy as they’ve been in about 3 weeks and this will help. What will help even more is the right approach to the game, strategically, and contributions from the midfield, which if you read the last post, you’ll see is in dire need. But we’ll dive more into this below. Let’s get started…
LAST FIVE
MILAN: LDLLW
PSG: WWWWW
FORMATIONS
MILAN (4-3-3) : Maignan; Hernandez, Tomori, Thiaw, Calabria (C); Reijnders, Musah, Loftus-Cheek; Leão, Giroud, Pulisic
PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hernandez, Skriniar, Marquinhos (C), Hakimi; Vitinha, Ugarte, Zaire-Emery; Mbappe, Muani, Dembele
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 3pm EST/8pm GMT
PLACE: San Siro, Milano, Italy
WHERE TO WATCH:
Paramount + has your Champions League action in the US (apparently ViX too), DAZN in Canada. Here’s a link where you might have some luck tracking down your viewing options and of course, check your local listings.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
PSG
PSG
In the first matchup between these two PSG did exactly what everyone thought they’d do. They got into space and Mbappe and company made Milan pay. No reason to think they’re going to approach this any different.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ATTACK
You cannot stop him, you can only hope to contain him. I wrote this last time in reference to Kylian Mbappe and it proved to be true. I think it’s true again today. I expect PSG to score today and so Milan will need to too.
Much like Milan and Leão (or any other team and their star), everything goes through Mbappe. PSG rely on him to score, of course, but they also rely on him to stretch the defense, draw defenders, and open up lanes for teammates. All of this happened with Mbappe opening the the scoring, then Randal Kolo Muani and Kang-In Lee scoring through wide open lanes. If Milan play aggressive and with a high line again, expect the same outcome.
DEFENSE
PSG likes to win the ball back with their midfield and get into transition quickly. This is how Achraf Hakimi scores and assists as much as he does despite being a LB. What their defense doesn’t do well is track back and defend due to a lack of pace at CB. Another component to why PSG like to win the ball with their midfield and get going is because of Donnarumma at the back and his poor distribution skills. Milan need to take advantage of these things and get PSG chasing and press the hell out of Donnarumma when the ball is at his feet.
MILAN
MILAN
If Milan is to win today they cannot get into a back-and-forth game with PSG. Milan…and Pioli, need to change their approach to this game because doing the same as last time won’t work. As mentioned above, I fully expect PSG to score so Milan is going to need multiple goals today. With the midfield continuing their subpar play, leaning on Leão, Theo, and Pulisic to lead a counter-attacking approach will be key in my opinion.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
ATTACK
If Pioli plays an aggressive high line again today then I don’t see how Milan produces anything, at least with the midfield playing the way they are. If the midfield has their game of the year then maybe, but more than likely Milan will need to sit back more and try to counter PSG. Most importantly this can get Leão into space as well as utilize Pulisic’s ball-carrying and distribution skills. Having RLC back will help as well as he’s been one of the few midfielders willing to make runs into the box and is pretty good at ball-carrying too. This is a good composition of players to lead a counter-attacking approach, I hope we see it.
DEFENSE
The backline is pretty strong having the opening round starters available. Thiaw showed signs of improvement last game and Calabria has been solid as well. Still, Calabria vs Mbappe is the most concerning and a more defensive posture will help with this as well as helping to open up Milan’s counter-attacking game.
Milan’s midfielders were poor at tracking back and finding the right player to mark in their first meeting vs PSG but again, easier to mark if you’re sitting back some and are organized. Krunic left last game banged up so we might see Musah at DM but overall the midfield will need to stay tight on PSG’s midfielders making runs into the box looking for that cutback pass from Mbappe. Tomori and Maignan are good and in good form but they can’t stop everything from reaching the back of the net so a complete effort will be needed.
PREDICTION TIME
First, to Lisi:
We are going to win
RLC is back
Win the midfield
F**k Donnarumma
I see a 1-1 or 2-2 draw or maybe a 1 goal Milan win. Tough to predict since Milan can run so hot and cold. The talent is there, just need the execution (and maybe some guys doing things they haven’t really been doing so far this season).
BETTING IDEAS
Lisi: I bet $20 on us to WIN
I think Mbappe scores and law of averages at this point has to point to Milan finally scoring in Champions League (can’t believe they haven’t scored yet in the competition this season…crazy). Those would be my bets.
Time to put up or shut up.
Forza Milan
gillis
*Lineups are updated and sure enough Musah is starting at DM but Krunic is available on the bench. I’m excited but also nervous at how this might play out. Rest of the starting lineup is strong and Chukwueze is back and available off the bench. Will he have an impact? So much unknown at the moment…