AC Milan’s recent 3-1 victory at Real Madrid boosted their chances of securing a place in the last-16 of the Champions League this season.
The result gave under-fire manager Paulo Fonseca some much-needed breathing space, although the respite did not last too long as Milan stumbled in their next Serie A game.
Despite this, the Champions League undoubtedly gives Fonseca the opportunity to prove that he is the right man to deliver success to Milan.
Fonseca handed major boost in Madrid
The result against the reigning champions boosted Milan’s hopes of claiming a top eight finish in the league phase, which would send them straight through to the last-16.
Sports bettors will likely see value in odds of 7/4 to finish in the top eight given the way Milan played in Madrid and are sure to be finding the best bonuses to boost their bankroll for wagering purposes.
Fonseca’s comments after the game highlighted the difficulties Milan have faced this season, but also pointed to a brighter future if things fall into place.
“I think it’s fair to say that we played without fear, with courage,” Fonseca said. “It’s not easy to come here and play against the best team in the world at the moment, especially when you want to show this courage, this personality.
“I think we did an excellent job in the first half. In the second half, perhaps we suffered a bit more because Real pressed harder, especially in the last 30 meters, but in the end, we scored an incredible goal. It takes courage to play as we did.
“We understood the phases of the game – when to speed up and when to push. The first half was almost perfect, I’m very pleased with my players.”
Inconsistency blighting Milan’s season
Fonseca’s observation about playing ‘without fear’ was particularly noteworthy given how his team has struggled against so-called lesser opponents this season.
He noted that Milan are often starved of space in Serie A, with teams in the league eager to make life difficult for one of Italian football’s big guns.
Many games become scrappy affairs, which does not necessarily suit the style of play Fonseca is trying to implement at Milan.
By contrast, the players appear to have more freedom to play in the Champions League, and that factor was unquestionably on display at the Bernabeu Stadium.
In many respects, the subsequent 3-3 draw at Cagliari summed up the difficulties Milan are having in Serie A under Fonseca.
They fell behind early on before battling back to take the lead. However, Cagliari refused to lie down and eventually snatched a point following a see-saw encounter.
Fonseca’s side will be eager to put that result behind them when they return to action in Serie A and the Champions League after the international break.
The home fixture against Juventus on November 23 could be pivotal to Milan’s hopes of keeping themselves in touch with the top teams in Serie A.
They are rated as 6/5 shots by the bookies to win the game and a victory would unquestionably change the complexion of their league campaign.
Just two points separates the top six teams in Serie A heading into the next round of fixtures. Milan are six points behind sixth-placed Juventus with a game in hand.
A victory over the Turin outfit would keep them in contention for a top four finish and could be the catalyst for Milan to enjoy a more productive season.
Milan hoping to end November with a flourish
The subsequent midweek trip to Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League is another hugely important fixture for Fonseca and his team.
Three points would boost their top eight hopes and set them up nicely for their remaining games against Red Star Belgrade (H), Girona (H) and Dinamo Zagreb (A).
Milan will be the bookies’ favourites to win each of these games and their chances of securing an automatic berth in the last-16 look promising.
With a home league game against mid-table Empoli rounding off their November fixtures, Milan could head into next month in a buoyant mood.
Consistency has not been Milan’s strong point under Fonseca, but the result in Madrid demonstrated what the team is capable of when everything clicks into gear.
A significant proportion of the Italian media remain unconvinced about Fonseca’s ability to guide Milan to the success their fanbase craves.
Their run of fixtures after the international break will be crucial in determining whether the Madrid result was as good things will ever get for Milan under Fonseca.
