After a rather shocking 1-1 draw against Cremonese, Milan bounced back with a strong performance against Lazio this weekend. In the end, the Rossoneri prevailed 2-0 quite comfortably.
Milan did really well in the first half and scored the first goal after just 17 minutes, following great press from especially Olivier Giroud and Ismael Bennacer. The latter delivered the finish and asserted himself in the No.10 role.
Just 12 minutes later, Theo Hernandez scored a goal-of-the-season candidate as he ran 84 meters in 12 seconds before firing a rocket past the goalkeeper. A stunning first half, therefore, followed by a very controlled second half.
The only negative, of course, was Rafael Leao’s exit but it seems the winger will be ready for Wednesday, but the final decision will be taken on the day. Down below are five things we learned from the game.
1. Defensive masterclass
The defence did a magnificent job at preserving the clean sheet and neutralizing Lazio’s attack, who failed to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Kjaer and Tomori were as solid as you’d like in front of Maignan, winning key duels and carrying the ball forward. This sort of compactness will be needed against Inter on Wednesday in order for Milan to get anything out of their city rivals.
Calabria and Hernandez also did a great job on both flanks and helped a lot toward Maignan’s clean sheet.
2. Superb from Theo Hernandez
Speaking of great defending, that sure wasn’t the only thing Hernandez did exceptionally on the day. The Frenchman was the sole reason Milan doubled their lead after he ran 84 meters before firing a rocket to beat the goalkeeper.
The left-back did his defensive duties well too, as he kept Felipe Anderson quiet, which isn’t as easy as it may sound given the Brazilian’s brilliant season thus far.
Hernandez will have to be as active on that flank against Inter as he was against Lazio, especially if Leao were to miss the first game. Such exploits by the Frenchman will be key against the city rivals.
3. Midfield dominance
It wasn’t only the defenders that were responsible for the stellar defensive performance. Krunic and Tonali played a perfect game as they covered a lot of ground and did a lot of dirty work off the ball. They were also very involved in the build-up and were looking to play with the ball and help their team keep possession which proved critical.
The duo also did well going forward as they stayed composed whilst in tight spots, but were not afraid to run with the ball when they had the space. Another great display by Krunic and Tonali, in other words, as they have really found their rhythm since Pioli decided to play Bennacer in a more advanced role.
4. Bennacer steps up
Another player that was crucial in this crucial for Milan game was Bennacer. The Algerian pressed really intelligently and was pivotal for his team as he also opened up the scoring.
Bennacer has always shown his excellent dribbling skills and with Krunic and Tonali playing deeper, the Algerian has more freedom in his new role and really has been able to offer some comfort for the team. When he’s on the ball, you know he can get out of a tight spot and is not afraid to be in possession.
Needless to say, he isn’t your typical attacking midfielder, but he’s done a very good job of slotting in behind Giroud. And given De Ketelaere and Diaz’s inconsistency, Bennacer looks like the right man for the job.
5. Positive from Saelemaekers
The Belgian came on in the 11th minute after Leao felt pain in his groin and Saelemaekers managed to somewhat fill the void left by the Portuguese.
He has actually had a good run of form lately and whilst he can’t be compared with Leao, he does offer a great work rate that allows Hernandez to make those forward runs he loves so much.
The Belgian is also more than capable of beating his man and is not shy of being on the ball, as he constantly tries to get into an open position and receive the ball. Hopefully, Pioli can use all of these characteristics and deploy Alexis on the left if Leao were to miss the first leg against Inter.
