AC Milan will take on Genoa tomorrow evening and many have questioned the scheduling of that game, as the Rossoneri faced Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. The three-day factor isn’t new, but the away factor is.
As highlighted by Giovanni Capuano, there are precedents where the Italian teams have had to play a Champions League game on Wednesday and then a league clash on Saturday. However, it’s the first time both of these are away games.
La crociata su #GenoaMilan tre giorni dopo #BVBMilan non mi appassiona. Però sul tema "non è mai accaduto" e "anomalia assoluta" un rapido fact checking si può fare.
📌 Nella prima fase #UCL delle ultime tre stagioni (2021/2022, 2022/2023 e quella attuale fino a dicembre)… pic.twitter.com/L1mUCnKPcO
— Giovanni Capuano (@capuanogio) October 6, 2023
The game against Borussia Dortmund was, of course, away from home and the Genoa clash will be played at Luigi Ferraris. The away-away schedule between Europe and Serie A has never happened before with just three days between the games.
The last time Milan played a UCL game and a league game in the space of three days, they played both at home (vs. Salzburg and Spezia). The time before that (three times in total), they faced Chelsea away and then Juventus at home.
It’s worth noting that Inter have been the most penalised team with the schedule, with three days of rest 22.2% of the time, but even they have never had two away games in a row.
It’s not far to Genoa at least. But will be a difficult game nonetheless
This type of schedule needs to change. Players are human, not robot.
I can’t imagine how tired the players are after played an intense match at dortmund then fly home to Italy, rest a bit, training, and tomorrow travel again to Genoa.
That’s why when you are owner of Milan, you must have at least 22 players who can cover first team spots.
This is ideal game for Pulisic and Giroud to be benched. And ideal game to see a team in much better shape in first half than couple of last games.
The thing I don’t understand is why the hell can they not schedule Milan’s game for Sunday? After this weekend it’s an International break, so it’s not like players need to play in the middle of next week.
Why does the FIGC have to do this to one of the most celebrated and biggest clubs in all of Italian football?