AC Milan take on Bologna this evening away from home, and it is a contest that could well be decided in the middle of the park.
As Corriere dello Sport (via MilanPress) write, it is a match will feature a number of interesting clashes, especially in midfield. Lewis Ferguson and Remo Freuler will face off against Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot (as well as Youssouf Fofana) in the respective engine rooms.
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Italiano’s plan
The first meeting this season, won 1-0 by Milan, was a lesson for Vincenzo Italiano. His team suffered greatly from the quality of Modric but above all from the physicality of Rabiot and Fofana, so according this evening the coach will draw a dam to contain the Rossoneri midfield.
The idea is to remove Odgaard and play Ferguson in the attacking midfield role, to have a player who can better support Freuler. One between Moro and Pobega would then get the nod, with the aim of making sure there is enough physicality in the trio.
Massimiliano Allegri on the other hand seems oriented to use what has become his first choice midfield three this season: Fofana, Modric and Rabiot. With the two Frenchmen and the Croatian, the Milan boss thinks he has the quality and the muscle in both phases.
Roma pressed Modric well and it worked. Because Ricci and Rabiot were further forward, luka didn’t have anyone close by for quick passes to beat the press. Let’s see if Allegri can counter that at Bologna. I’m sure they re-watched the Roma game and will attempt to do the same.