GdS: ‘Goals in their tails’ – how Milan got past Cremonese after four-act drama

AC Milan just about got the job done against Cremonese, though they were made to work right until the end to break the home resistance.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, with the insistence on a ‘corto muso’ approach becoming tiresome, Milan decided to score two goals in the 90th and 94th minutes, resolving a game that was level until the end.

Conceptually, however, it doesn’t change much: they won by a hair’s breadth again. It means that Milan remain Inter’s main challengers, but Sunday won’t be the same story, and surrendering to the Nerazzurri like they did in the first half hour against Cremonese would be dangerous.

Yet, if Milan manage to maintain second place while playing virtually without a centre-forward, couldn’t they speed up their path to the Champions League by taking a little more risk?

Without a No.9

Allegri took a risk, yes, but after an hour. This isn’t anything new. He started with his usual 3-5-2, which could also be morphed into a 3-5-2-0 in the sense that the two strikers – Leao more central and Pulisic wide – act as attacking midfielders but never get into the box.

Naturally, reducing everything to tactics is folly. There’s also the attitude: as often happens, Milan play at a slow pace, especially if Modric isn’t creating, and the striker wouldn’t get much service even if they were there.

Leao and Pulisic had big chances when put in behind, but Cremonese didn’t concede. They hadn’t won in 12 games (now 13) and their shaky position in the table is causing anxiety, yet they fought on equal terms. Whether it was all their merit or a slight complicity from the Rossoneri, who knows.

A counter-punch

Milan’s initial passiveness saw Cremonese come out of their shell and attack, winning midfield duels and man-marking across the field. For half an hour, the Rossoneri remained behind the ball, never managing to truly get the ball forward at pace.

When these efforts failed to materialise, Davide Nicola advised his players to be more cautious. Their line dropped back, the departments tightened in distance, and the new strategy was to counter-attack, leaving Milan in charge of the game.

With Saelemaekers and Pulisic at their lowest, and Leao stripped of his instincts and forced to play without the ball on the floor, Fofana then took charge. With bursts and runs – plus two through balls to Pulisic and Leao that were wasted, and a shot well saved – he made it his mission to break things open.

The trident

It felt like two games had been played in the first half alone. The second half marks the beginning of a third, more balanced game, with both Milan and Cremonese waiting for the other’s move.

Nicola lost the momentum of the Pezzella-Maleh duo on the left and, alongside Bonazzoli, found himself with a lively but inaccurate Vardy. The midfield struggled, but still Vandeputte wasted a chance in transition.

Thus begins the fourth act, the one everyone was waiting for: Milan making a move. First cautiously, bringing on Fullkrug for Saelemaekers and Ricci for Fofana, switching to a 4-3-3 and returning the flank to Leao.

Then, more decisively, in the 34th minute, Pulisic came off and Nkunku comes on on the right, forming a powerful front three. Meanwhile, Nicola has responded with Djuric for Vardy and Barbieri high up for Zerbin.

The Allegrian finale

The show unfolds in the finale with an Oscar-worthy Allegri. Milan led on points, but a draw wouldn’t be scandalous. Füllkrug may not be a phenomenon, but he fills that void in the penalty area, shifts the centre of gravity, and creates opportunities.

Was it to be too late? Like in a movie with a twist at the end, Bartesaghi gets a corner and gets hurt just before the 90th minute. Allegri jumped and yelled at Estupiñan to get ready. He went on, then a one-two between the Ecuadorian and Modric leads to a cross that hit Pavlovic and nestled in.

In the 94th minute, with Cremonese off balance, Fullkrug lays it off in midfield, Nkunku counters, and unselfishly squares to Leao: 2-0. With the trident, Milan attack more. It’s not necessarily the derby solution, but allowing Inter to defend high – like Cremonese did in the first half – would play into their hands.