After yet another disappointing draw over the weekend vs Cagliari at home, Milan comes into this game needing a win to take advantage of the game in hand (one of two they have). Playing a Como team that likes to play open football, will Milan find it easier to breakthrough in the final third today? We’re about to find out…
COMO (3-4-2-1): Butez; Dossena, Kempf, Goldaniga; Van Der Brempt, Engelhardt, Da Cunha, Fadera; Strefezza, Diao; Cutrone
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan (C); Royal, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernández; Bennacer, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leão; Morata
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 12:30pm EST/5:30pm GMT
PLACE: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como
WHERE TO WATCH:
Paramount+ and FuboTV here in the US of Aye (Spanish broadcast on Fox Deportes in the US); FuboTV and TLN for Canada; TNT in the UK (maybe?); ESPN for Mexico; DAZN for Germany, Austria, Switzerland; a website called GXR for our friends in India; and illegal streams that support dictators and oligarchs everywhere.
*Let us know if this needs updating or if you have additional broadcasters to add*
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Another game vs a bottom of the table team and one Milan really can’t afford to drop points. The league has been doing them some favors – just like it did under Fonseca – but Milan really have yet to take advantage of it. As I mentioned in the Milan-Cagliari post match, I thought Milan played well but needed to attack a packed-in Cagliari side through the air. Como seems less inclined to play that way, especially at home, but if they do I hope Milan makes the adjustment.
If Como does play open then that obviously favors Milan and I think the game ends up resembling the second half of the Inter game: free-flowing and opportunities both ways. Milan has the quality, especially getting forward, but the defense has been leaky for a variety of reasons and Como will surely want to test them I would think.
The lineup is strong again, the right move by Conceição, but there’s some confusion about the formation. At the time of this writing FotMob have Milan in a 4-2-3-1 but I’ve see a 4-3-3 thrown out as well. I have my reservations about the 4-3-3 but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Como has been playing well of late, with 10 points in their last 8 games (they have 19 total points), including only 2 loses, one to Fiorentina and one to Inter. You could say Milan is catching them at a bad time but an aggressive Como will benefit Milan so let’s see what happens. For those keeping track of former Milan players, specifically the ex-Milan player curse, Cutrone is starting Como and leads them in scoring, so…
I missed last game as Milan played well but didn’t get the result. Playing well matters but only if you can parlay that into a good run of form and we’re all still waiting for that to happen this season. My hope is we see an open game and if so Milan can win it 3-1. If Como packs it in, then it’s anyone’s guess if Milan can meet the moment with a combination of the right approach and execution.
Michael Lisi says: If we don’t win, I quit. Seriously, I think you gotta go Pulisic to score or assist, shots by Reijnders and a Bennacer shot as well. 2-1 Milan because we can’t shut out anyone.
Let’s get it done.
Forza Milan
gillis
**Don’t forget to check out Lisi’s Weekend Whip Around: Round 18!