Milan’s first real test of the season? Yup. Can they walk out with a point? I think so. All 3 points?…
Also, in case you missed it, our season preview…the real one…dropped earlier today. You can find that here, as well as the quasi-season preview that dropped before the season started on our website. Lots of good stuff, including guest Pete Acquaviva, who did the season preview last season with Michael Lisi.
MATCHDAY:
LAST FIVE
JUVENTUS: WLWWW
MILAN: DLWWW
FORMATIONS
JUVENTUS (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Kalulu, Bremer, Lucumí, Çelik; Locatelli, Luiz; Conceição, González, Alajbegović; Kolo Muani
MILAN (3-5-2): Maignan (C); Gila, De Winter, Pavlović; Moreira, Modrić, Musah, Estupiñan; Rabiot, Saelemaekers; Ramos
TIME/LOCATION
TIME: 2:45pm EST/6:45pm GMT
PLACE: Allianz Stadium, Torino
WHERE TO WATCH:
***Let us know if this needs updating or if you have additional broadcasters to add***
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.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
For this game, Milan travel to Torino to play against a team they haven’t had much success with of late. As loyal reader ViE pointed out in the comment section of the last post, Milan hasn’t scored against Juventus since May 2023! That’s 6 games and now 4 coaches later. Yikes. Time to turn that around. I think they can finally get on the scoreboard today but it’s the defense that has me worried.
Why? Milan has been pressing as Amorim prefers to do, but Milan hasn’t played anyone yet with much quality and they’ve given up more than a few good chances so far this season. Growing pains for a new coach trying to get his philosophy across to his players, but Juventus has enough quality to make Milan pay. I’m really worried about Kolo Muani, who hasn’t really gotten going yet but can score in bunches, as well as Francisco Conceição, who is one of the better playmakers in Serie A.
Finally, we’re going to get our first look at Moreira but he’s playing in place of Chukwueze which is odd since Chuk has been one of the better players through 2 games. Also, Rabiot in place of RLC is the change we’ve all be waiting for, and while not the biggest Saelemaekers guy, I think that’s an upgrade over Cissé. Let’s not talk about Estupiñan in for Bartesaghi. Boooo…
Anyway, I’m expecting both teams to score and it could be one of those games where it turns into a 2-2 or 3-2 kind of score line unless Amorim is willing to change it up. Time to see where Milan are in terms of the top third of the table.
PREDICTION TIME:
I don’t think, or am expecting a win here. If they do it’ll be of the one-goal variety. I’m thinking 1-1 or 2-2, or maybe a one-goal win in either direction. The only thing I’m certain of is a dumb reckless card-worthy tackle by Locatelli that reminds me why I can’t stand the guy. Oh, and also that seeing Kalulu on the other side will make me sad.
But a draw here will be a quality result as Milan continue to get their feet under them.
Forza Milan
gillis