The day has finally arrived. AC Milan will take on Roma in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie at San Siro this evening, in what is another Euroderby.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes this morning, Milan faced both Napoli and Inter in the Champions League last season, but this time it is Roma who await and this time it is the Europa League.
The tension is similar also because both teams know they are risking a lot of their season just as the coaches, Stefano Pioli and Daniele De Rossi, know that their future could well be determined based on the outcome.
This morning the paper tried to tactically frame the challenge and identified two main issues. The first is how to stop Rafael Leao and Paulo Dybala, while the second is the duel between Ismael Bennacer and Lorenzo Pellegrini in midfield.
A test of the 10s
On the one hand Leao, Milan’s No.10 from this season, is in a period of great form. And on the other Dybala, experienced and not currently plagued by injuries, has also been resurgent.
The main threats for the respective defences will be these two: it is important to understand how Pioli and De Rossi will have prepared the match to defuse the two champions.
The Portuguese will find himself facing his former teammate Zeki Celik with whom he has already engaged in duels in the last four matches against Roma.
Leao’s qualities are known to everyone and in these matches the difference will be made by his team-mates. The hope for Pioli is that Olivier Giroud’s presence and Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s runs send the Giallorossi into a tailspin, opening the field for Leao and Christian Pulisic on the wings.
On the other side, the Rossoneri will find themselves with an old enemy in Romelu Lukaku who, since De Rossi’s arrival, is more involved in teamwork.
What is especially scary is Dybala, who will probably force Theo Hernandez to be a bit more attentive in the defensive phase. Will the number 10s make the difference?
Battle for the midfield
It is possible that the fate of the match, however, could be decided or in any case directed by whoever will dominate in the middle of the park, as often happens in games of this type.
On one side Ismael Bennacer and Tijjani Reijnders – with Loftus-Cheek shielding a little further on – and on the other, the Cristante-Paredes-Pellegrini trio.
The Giallorossi captain in particular is experiencing a great period of form: since De Rossi’s arrival Roma have been on the ball a lot more and he has benefitted from this.
It will be Bennacer’s task above all to be able to counter him and try to defuse him. As mentioned, Loftus-Cheek will also have an important role who will bring the first pressure on the director Paredes and will have the task of cutting off his supplies to the rest of the midfield.
The variables are Reijnders and Cristante who have the ability to move around and can try to break the balance, albeit with very different characteristics.
I’m so looking forward to this game! It’s going to be a thrill!
Roma will double press Leao every time which will open up the space for Puli and RLC to make runs into the box and find room to score.
In turn we need mark Lukaku and Dybala be like white on rice. Christante and Paredes will sit deep. SO Bennacer will need to stay tight on Pellegrini as the outlet.
This is a winnable game. Would like to put this game away in the first leg.