Big game this week as Milan travel to Torino to take on Juventus, one of the 6 teams ahead of them in the table. The Conceição era started with a come-from-behind win over Juventus in the Supercoppa Italia semifinal but now the arguably more important challenge awaits. Can Milan make it 2 in a row in the league for the first time since beating Inter and then Lecce in late September? (yes, it really has been that long since back to back league wins…sigh).
MATCHDAY:
LAST FIVE
JUVENTUS: DDLDW
MILAN: WDWWD
FORMATIONS
JUVENTUS (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Cambiaso, Gatti, Kalulu, McKennie; Locatelli (C), Thuram-Ulien; Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Mbangula; González
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan (C); Royal, Gabbia, Tomori, Hernández; Bennacer, Fofana; Musah, Reijnders, Leão; Abraham
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 12pm EST/5pm GMT
PLACE: Allianz Stadium, Torino
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:
So Conceição ended up going with a 4-3-3 last game out of the gates and while I like that formation the least for the team given the player characteristics, it also didn’t really work (surprise!). Milan didn’t break through against Como until the second half and substitutions changed the shape and responsibilities of the players. In this game Conceição appears to be going back to the 4-2-3-1, with Musah at RW for the injured Pulisic, Reijnders as the CAM, Gabbia in for an injured Thiaw, Bennacer in the double pivot, and Abrabam in for a suspended Morata. I would have been fine with Musah next to Fofana and Jimenez at RW but his works as well. More importantly, I hope it kick starts Reijnders under Conceição since he’s going to have to do more with Pulisic out and him as the CAM will surely encourage his offensive involvement.
It’s no surprise what I want to see out of Milan: width and vertical passing. The last time these guys played in the league it was the most boring and tame game plan we had seen out of Fonseca. I don’t think we’ll get that from Conceição, but the point can’t be lost that while we see a more aggressive Juventus at home, these guys are also more than content to ride out a draw. So, Milan is going to have to be the ones in the end to push this thing open. One quick highlight: it appears McKennie is at RB and with Gatti at RCB, so that side is going to be VERY slow. All the more reason to play through Leão and Theo as much as Milan can (also, don’t overlook Abraham’s link up play as we saw last game).
Juventus was very hacky in the Supercoppa Italia semifinal. I’m used to that from Locatelli but was surprised the whole team was doing that. Hopefully the ref can keep it check so we can watch some football. Interestingly, Vlahovic is sitting to start the game with Nico González starting instead. Yildiz was the only one who really proved a consistent threat last time so maybe they are thinking speed up top? Either way, I’m glad Tomori is in to match some of that speed.
This one is tough for me because I want to say Milan get going but the league has been such a slog. And Juventus is more than happy to play in a slog and slog home 1 point game after game. So I think a draw is probably the likely result, and it’s a good one in Torino, even though it feels like they should…need to get more as they continue their chase for the top 4.
Michael Lisi says: Draw. Gabbia header early…Royal brain fart sees Juve level it late.
Let’s see what happens…
Forza Milan
gillis
**Don’t forget to check out Lisi’s Weekend Whip Around: Round 21!