Massimiliano Allegri has named the starting eleven for today’s clash between AC Milan and Sassuolo, making three changes compared to the draw against Juventus.
As a result of Como’s draw against Napoli last night, Milan have a pretty big opportunity today. Not only would a win extend the gap down to fifth place to eight points, but it would also see the Rossoneri leapfrog Antonio Conte’s side in the standings.
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That said, it’s clear that Milan will have to improve massively to get back on track, having struggled to perform lately. Granted that they got four points in the last two games, the performances were far from great.
Sassuolo vs. AC Milan: Official starting XIs
The newspapers more or less got everything right regarding the starting eleven, as Allegri has indeed decided to make three changes. The first is in defence, with Pervis Estupinan replacing Davide Bartesaghi, and the second is Ardon Jashari replacing the injured Luka Modric.
In attack, Allegri has swapped Chris for another Chris, benching Pulisic while giving Nkunku a big chance. That’s it as far as the changes go, though, with the gaffer hoping that it will be enough to spark a reaction.
As for Sassuolo, Domenico Berardi is back in the starting eleven after serving a two-game ban, which is bad news for Milan considering his record against them. The former Rossoneri midfielder Aster Vranckx is on the bench.
Official Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Jashari, Rabiot, Estupiñan; Nkunku, Leão.
Bench: Pittarella, Terracciano; Athekame, Bartesaghi, De Winter; Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Ricci; Füllkrug, Gimenez.
Official Sassuolo XI (4-3-3): Turati; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muharemović, Garcia; Koné, Matić, Thorstvedt; Berardi, Nzola, Laurienté.
Bench: Murić, Satalino, Zacchi; Coulibaly, Doig, Felipe, Romagna; Frangella, Iannoni, Lipani, Vranckx; Fadera, Moro, Pinamonti, Volpato.
Now we find out if the reason we’re not scoring is because Modric held the ball and slowed the pace of the match.
Personally I think the main issue among issues is the lack of a true striker, someone who leads the line and constantly challenges the position of opposition center backs. If both striker drop deep we have nobody creating space. Its hard to penetrate a wall with a brick, you can do it but it require alot of force
The main issue is the lack of a true tactical coach. That’s the issue and nothing else.
Coach and the style is definitively part of the problem but I wouldn’t say its the only problem. We didn’t replace Oliver Giroud and its showing
100%. Sassuolo is slicing is up so far. What’s the point of 3-5-2 if we’re still going to get sliced up. The 4-3-3 experiment failed against Udinese, but you can’t transition from one formation and mindset to another over the course of one week. 4-3-3 is still the way to go and I think that’s the way the squad should be built this summer. The only reason it won’t happen is Allegri. Expect more of what we’ve seen this season next season, no matter who arrives.
I do agree to a point, but if we don’t get a proper striker in it wont go better than it did Pioli’s last season either. We all know the differences Zlatan made when he arrived and we all know the differences Giroud made when he arrived. But 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 is definitively the way for us
Yes, Saelemakers is playing horribly. Anyone that tries to run through that side does as they want.
The last two seasons can be summed up in why I keep a box of tissues next to me while watching the game.
Last season it was to wipe the tears for my eyes due to our poor results.
This year it’s to wipe the blood from my eyes as they bleed from an unwatchable tactical setup.
I’ll always take the wins, but it seems clear to everyone but our Max that two strikers simply doesn’t work. With Gimenez is now on the bench. The fact that we’re not seeing him underscores this all the more.
Estupinan didn’t know Berardi is left footed.
That’s not lack of effort or talent. It’s a lack of prep and caring.
That is a lack of football knowledge if you put any blame on Estupinan for the goal
It’s a lack of football knowledge to point out that Eatupinan was reaching for the block on Berardi’s right foot which was also near post while leaving his stronger left door open with 80% of th goal available to it?
Because … Yeah … Football knowledge.
(Of course there were plenty of other reasons it got to that point, but turns out defenders gotta … Well … Defend)
You and football knowledge. You said Nkunku is better than Leao and Pulisic together. You’re a clown, and this is exactly the level of football knowledge you have. 😂😂😂
You really do have me mixed up with someone else.
I have never said such a thing.
Was THC recently legalized in your area?
Are you saying that defenders should not defend and thus know which foot the opposition would shoot with?
Hmmmm …
– Attributing words I have not said to me.
– Arguing with the need for defenders to defend
– Personal attacks.
Dude I swear it wasn’t me who serviced your girlfriend.
Not the first one, Berardi with his 12th goal against us
No corto muso today ? 😆
Jashari is disaster today.
I think you misspelled Tomorri
Yeah, Jashari is doing great. Are you his cousin? 😂 Every time someone criticises him you are there like a leech with you whataboutism…
LMAO you mistake me for someone else.
Sorry you are so angry you cannot see the dark humor in me posting that after Tomori was sent off.
Thanks for the personal attack. I’m sure your mom still loves you.
👍🏻
stupid tomori!! game over, enough for this season
Whaaaaaat a f*****g idiot is Tomori… and our idiots from the management want to extend contract of this idiot untalented brainless “defender”… Today from the start of the game EVERYONE can see from a high altitude airplane the coming red card of Tomori…such an idiot…
I don’t wanna see Allegri on Milan bench from next season even we archive a Champions League spot. Horror coach from any aspect
I like the wins but I am starting to come around to this sort of thinking.
Nkunku set piece taking as absymal. We have Pulisic on the bench who was killing such deliveries last year and tracks back.
It’s not just that Allegri is set in his ways. It’s that those ways are only calibrated for top 4 and cannot be adapted to the immediate situation.
I think it can be summed up as “we just need to 352 harder.”
I think the only thing that can save us is the FIGC appointing him Italy coach, or if we collapse in these last four games and finish 5th. Otherwise, we’re going to have to endure.
Defacto four at the back now. Meanwhile, Pavlovic is the only player who can beat his man, and he’s a central defender.
I have no idea how fans on here can see how we have played this season, the type of tactical set up we have and still tell me they wanna see the same next season. This is INSANE. Allegri staying in this team next season would be a disaster. I can’t stand watching these games anymore. Smdh
Dindudre 100% correct
This will be the last match that am watching this season the way Milan play is very annoying..
We are only going to fool our self in UCL
Sack the outdated Allegri
Alegri out
What a coach. We’re down one man, down one goal, and he makes a substitution to protect the defense instead of throwing the kitchen sink at this point ?? What are we even doing here ? What are we protecting the goal post for? Fire Allegri already pls…
Absolutely alegri’s ball is garbage it’s better if we go without him for the remaining games
Our Champions League is in the hands of Como and Roma! We have nothing to do with it anymore…
The management are spending money but on the wrong players. Allegri won’t change. This is the only way he knows. It’s pointless commenting on Leao and some players.
No one gonna say anything about Leao? Lol