AC Milan secured three important points as they scored three times against Torino at San Siro, but it was not a straightforward night.
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As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, Milan bounced back after their defeat to Lazio and can enjoy the international break a bit more. They moved within five points of Inter, who play tonight against Fiorentina, while re-overtaking Napoli and moving nine points above Juventus.
Eyes will quickly turn to the big game on Easter Monday against a resurgent Napoli, but for now Massimiliano Allegri can reflect on a job that was well done in the end, even if there were a couple of bumps along the way.
Trading blows
The game last night summed up the Rossoneri’s entire season. A sluggish approach, difficulty building out from the back, and the forwards’ contribution below the bare minimum. Niclas Füllkrug never got into the swing of things, and Christian Pulisic hadn’t scored since December 28th.
The goals were once again provided by a defender (Stahinja Pavlovic) and two midfielders: Adrien Rabiot (now at five) and Youssouf Fofana, who hadn’t scored in six months. Spreading the threat is good, but eventually the forwards must score.
In this context, the good news for Allegri is the return of Santiago Gimenez, who hasn’t been seen since October. The Mexican will be useful in the final sprint, even though he didn’t do too much when he came off the bench.
Despite so much creative and finishing difficulty, the two players with greater international standing and leadership qualities once again dragged the Rossoneri. Luka Modric and Rabiot were Allegri’s giants, as the former helped set up the latter with a lovely through ball.
The Frenchman, in addition to the goal, was all over the pitch. The numbers speak for themselves: 20 games with Adrien, average points per game: 2.45. Ten games without, average points per game: 1.45. Milan are a different team without him.
A strike of beauty
Milan’s usual sluggish start has become a trademark. Torino got off to a better start, were more proactive and well-connected by the wide range of Vlasic, more of a mezzala than an attacking midfielder in Torino’s 3-4-1-2 formation.
The wing-backs also showed good drive. In the 13th minute, the right-back Pedersen crossed and Vlasic anticipated Mike Maignan’s arrival. The ball rolled wide. Two minutes later, Ismajli wasn’t far off threatening with a header, and San Siro began to grown.
Max then tried to intervene: the 3-5-2 becomes a 4-3-3 with Saelemaekers and Pulisic spread out to either side of Füllkrug stretching the Granata’s defence. But the first shots on target come in spurts, not thanks to a shared collective idea.
In the 36th minute, Rabiot calls for a triangle and slams a shot into Paleari’s gloves. Shortly after, Pavlovic pounces on a ball coming his way, a clearance from the Granata defence: he volleys it with an arc that sees it dip violently and cannon in off the crossbar.
The response
Torino were not downbeat, and in fact got back on top. Maignan first had to block Zapata’s shot from close range (38′) and then swatted a low Vlasic effort off the post from the edge of the box, yet Simeone was there for a tap-in to make it 1-1.
In fact, halfway through the match, the numbers said Torino were dominating: 5 shots on target to 2, 4 corners to 1. But in the dressing room, two opposing chemical reactions were taking place. Torino convinced themselves they needed to return to the pitch and do more of the same.
However, the away side returned with their concentration lacking, and so the match was decided in two minutes. Modric cleverly ran the ball to Pulisic, who broke away and crossed low. Rabiot ferociously tore apart Pedersen with his run, finishing from close range to make it 2-1.
The unforgivable Torino blackout continued, when Fofana had time to touch the ball three times in the box before firing it into the net, via the glove of Paleari. It was Milan’s moment of maximum self-confidence, as they finally attacked with gusto.
Torino did well to not fall apart, reopening the game with Vlasic’s penalty inside the final 10 minutes, keeping it alive until the end. The celebrations belonged to Milan, who will spend a peaceful break before enjoying a sumptuous Easter Monday at the Maradona.