AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli outfoxed his counterpart Luciano Spalletti with two perfect tactical moves: Brahim Diaz on the right and Ismael Bennacer as the playmaker.
Today’s edition of Tuttosport (via MilanNews) focuses on the position of the Spaniard, who has already played wide on the right and did so with great success in the 2-0 win over Juventus at San Siro earlier in the season.
It was evident in the early stages last night that he would be able to profit from the role again given how easily he beat his opponents on the dribble, weaving in and out of three players to set up Rafael Leao’s opening goal before scoring himself from close range.
Then there was Bennacer’s more advanced role. He played mostly as part of the forward line with Rade Krunic as a holding midfielder alongside Tonali, because the Algerian’s first task was to shield the opposing playmaker Lobotka which he did.
Pioli’s reason was obvious: a player like Krunic would probably have struggled against the small Slovakian midfielder, while Bennacer – having similar physical characteristics such as a low centre of gravity – marked him more easily.
The former Empoli man was virtually flawless in both phases, so much so that he too ended up on the man of the match list together with Leao and Diaz.
