Round of 64?! Is this March Madness???
No, sadly Milan are playing this early in the Coppa Italia because last season was basically a disaster. Milan has retooled, brought in an old friend to lead the team, and today is our first meaningful look at the team. So in a weird way maybe we should be happy we get this unusually early Coppa game especially with zero Europe this season. Right???
MATCHDAY:
LAST FIVE
MILAN: LWWDL
BARI: LLWLD
FORMATIONS
MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan (C); Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic;, Saelemaekers, Fofana, Ricci, Loftus-Cheek, Estupiñan; Pulisic, Leão
BARI (4-3-3): Cerofolini; Dickmann, Vicari, Nikalaou, Dorval; Bellomo, Braunöder, Pagano: Pereiro, Moncini, Sibilli
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 3:15pm EST/7:15pm GMT
PLACE: San Siro, Milano
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:
Oh boy, I have no idea what to expect. Max usually likes a defensive-first approach but Milan shouldn’t be coming out of the gates hesitant vs a Serie B side. As for the lineup and formation, looks like a 3-5-2 with Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlovic at the back and Pulisic and Leão up top. Basically what Allegri’s been throwing out there this whole preseason.
So, I’m going to expect a lot of possession and perhaps Milan trying to get behind Bari with some through or over the top balls to the 2 wingers, as we saw them do that in the preseason against basically every opponent. Not sure why Giménez isn’t starting and you all know how I feel about Leão anywhere but wide-WIDE left. But…against Bari it shouldn’t matter.
Should Milan win they would play the winner of Lecce-Juve Stabia in the Round of 32.
Predictions
Win, should be by a few goals, and please just let the main guys stay healthy…please.
Calcio is back! Let’s do this!
Forza Milan
gillis