AC Milan grabbed another big win on Thursday night, this time against European-hunting Como, away from home.
In a game where two unbeaten runs were at stake, many predicted a continuation of Milan’s recent troubles. For the first 40 minutes, it seemed it would occur too, with Oliver Kempf grabbing the first goal of the game.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
However, a penalty on the stroke of half-time – converted by Christopher Nkunku – and a brace from Adrien Rabiot sealed the three points. Here are five things we learned from the game.
1. Maignan justifying his demands
It is not a shock at this point that the keeper was crucial once again for his side. He has found form following his poor year last season and is proving how important he is. Perhaps more importantly, too, why the Milan management needs to sort out his contract situation.
Mike made two impressive saves to deny Paz and also a fantastic save on Da Cunha’s header to keep Milan alive in the game in delicate situations. A true leader for his side, proving that last year was not the norm and that he is indeed world-class.
2. Improvement at the back
Milan indeed conceded a goal, the same as against Fiorentina and Genoa, but unlike the previous games, the Rossoneri actually faced a much stronger side this time around. So, managing to limit them was definitely an improvement.
Unfortunately, Davide Bartesaghi was, again, at fault on the goal after being at fault against Fiorentina as well. The youngster has had a dip in form, which is probably normal given his age. Nevertheless, Allegri does need to help the defender get into form, especially since Pervis Estupinan is not living up to the expectations either.
On the other hand, Matteo Gabbia, Fikayo Tomori and Koni De Winter did well enough to prevent even more danger. Fortunately for them, in the odd case that they made a mistake, Maignan was there to salvage the situation.
The biggest positive has to be De Winter, though, as he probably played his best game in red and black with good positioning and aerial dominance.
3. Rabiot saving the day
The Frenchman has been superb and is arguably the best transfer the Rossoneri made alongside Luka Modric, and he continued to prove this against Como.
With Como being all over them in the first half, the team drew lucky, as Rabiot used his body to win a penalty in the 45th minute, which was converted by Nkunku to bring the score level going into halftime.
Then in the second half, his work rate continued to be impressive. He managed to find himself in a dangerous position inside Como’s penalty box, and he did not disappoint when making the score 2-1 after a lovely finish.
The game was far from over, however, with Como having more than enough firepower to create trouble for Milan. It was again Rabiot taking the initiative, though, and in the 87th minute, he scored his second of the night.
What a performance by the Frenchman who came in the summer for just €7 million.
4. Nkunku improving slowly
Let’s be clear – Christopher Nkunku was really struggling throughout the game, with both him and Rafael Leao unable to really do much up front. The reasons for that were plenty. One being that Como really dictated the tempo, holding the ball for most of the game and pressing very high up the pitch.
In the end, Nkunku scored the equaliser by converting the penalty won by Rabiot and make no mistake, the pressure was definitely there for the Frenchman.
This goal builds on the one against Fiorentina and the brace against Hellas Verona. It is worth noting that he also had an assist against Sassuolo, and it’s fair to point out that he missed 2 games between then.
Having said that, his performances are certainly not flashy, but at least he’s getting on the scoresheet more regularly.
5. Crucial win for the team’s mentality
If you step back for a second, it’s obvious that the Diavolo were not playing their best football against Como and were actually struggling for the majority of the game.
Regardless of that, the fact that they managed to struggle and stay in the game against a very strong home side, playing good football, needs to be praised. The mentality the team has shown in big games this season has been impressive, and it was no different against Como.
Maignan led at the back, whilst Rabiot worked tirelessly in both phases of the game to help his side claw back a result. Modric also adjusted after the second half and shifted more towards trying to limit Paz as he struggled with possession in the first half.
Nkunku and Rafa did their part despite not being fully fit. Then Allegri also managed the game well with his substitutions, especially Niclas Fullkrug and Samuele Ricci, who did very well.
The game was reminiscent of the one against Napoli in the first half of the season, where the team struggled a lot to grab the win. But it’s exactly what champions do, and whilst it’s still very early for that discussion, we can be sure that Allegri and his men will not be giving up anytime soon.
If one day my city is being besieged by an invading army, I’ll entrust its fate to two (2) men: Mike Maignan and Massimiliano Allegri. Watching that game felt exactly like that, a besieged AC Milan that somewho managed to survive the onslaught. Or one can maybe say that it was a target practice session for Como that they didn’t succeed in.
If one has to summarize what is ugly football and what is the Corto Muso theory in a single game, I’ll personally pick this one. Yesterday, the mastermind that is our manager stripped the game of football of all its components and elements and left it with the single essential aspect: winning. Winning was all what we did yesterday and, perhaps, probably, the only thing we actually need.
Well said!
Things I learned:
1. Watching Nkunku taking PK’s makes me just as nervous as watching Leao take them.
2. Our CB’s are still average and Barte must be allowed to make mistakes to develop.
3. Slow first haves are clearly an Allegri tactic.
4. Nkunku is still a mixed bag of d!€ks and 2PKs out of 4 goals don’t make me feel differently.
5. This team plays better with an anchor 9.
Yeah I hope Fulkrug gets a run of games.
Not sure who will play beside him. May be worth trying 3 upfront
#3 – this is the one that confuses me – against Fiorentina it was the other way around with a decent first half and awful second – I don’t know what’s going on in Max’s head…
Number 2 should be just De Winter improvement, not improvement at the back.
You can’t have n1 that the goalkeeper saved the team but then say that the defensive department improved especially since Como had numerous chances and Milan played with 5 at the back. Tomori was awful again.
How would you get Nkunku is continuing to improve based on this match?
Because he scored on a penalty that he didn’t draw and had nothing to do? It wasn’t even a well taken penalty. ANd I honestly think the PK might have been the only time he touched the ball the entire match. Completely invisible = improving. Ok.
Kind of hard for a striker to touch the ball when his team doesn’t have the possession of the ball and are sitting back defending. How many times did Leao, his striker partner touched the ball? How many times did Modric touch the ball?
True, but then again how do you conclude that he improved ?
It says he improves slowly when you look at the whole season, not just this game.
He dropped deep and linked up play.
At one crucial stage when Milan were under pressure he turned, took on 3-4 players, and won a free kick.
Do you honestly believe Milan won that game playing with what? 3-4 players or whatever number you’re prepared to give credit to?
I think he’s just making the point that Nkunku is getting a lot of praise for someone who took me 10 minutes to figure out he was on the pitch. I think there’s definitely a place for him on this team but I don’t have the same confidence in him that I have in Rafa, Puli, and even Fullkrug. That said, it’s likely more the formation we’re playing. We’re so dependent on individual moments of brilliance and realistically Nkunku and Fullkrug (especially) need to be given time to adjust to Serie A.
I played in a German league as a teenager where myself and one other player did not speak German and had to communicate through interpreters. If you’ve never done this before I can tell you its impossibly difficult and you constantly feel unsettled and not a part of the team.
💯
Not let’s go and get a convincing win against Lecce cuz we need it
Great win.
All of the elements were there: absorbed pressure; big match winning performances from key players; and great team spirit.
Fantastic.
Why thank you. It’s great that our team did all those things.
Hard luck on your loss but I’m sure Como will bounce back.
Cheers
The comprehension skills around here leave a lot to be desired.
So is hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is a basic human condition.
In fact often a person’s words are driven by the shame or anxiety of their actions.
What I will never understand is fans slagging off their own players.
Well at least you’re starting to admit your hypocrisy…
But when you talk about slagging off their own players are you talking about AC Milan players or Como players ?
How is the mood in semprecomo ?
About time to get the ignore-feature here so we can all ignore the whiny Como-fans for good.
“What I will never understand is fans slagging off their own players”
Maldinis Heir
16 January 2025, 0:56 at 12:56 am
I think I am done.
I was supporting Como in that game.
There’s nothing to connect me to this Milan. You simply cannot have an Italian club side that has zero Italians in the starting 11.
Even more so when the players who take their place are mostly awful.
That’s you 👆 right? Mr. ” I don’t understand fans slagging off their own players”. Well tell us how you don’t understand yourself…
Touché!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣