AC Milan and Juventus will add another chapter to their historical and illustrious rivalry this evening as they face off against each other at San Siro.
The tide of the rivalry has swung in Milan’s favour in recent seasons as they completed a league double over Juve in 2022-23 for the first time in 14 years, but tonight’s game has some extra meaning given both teams will feel they are fighting for the Scudetto.
Injuries and selection issues have plagued the build-up for both sides, particularly Stefano Pioli’s men who will be without Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ismael Bennacer and Samuel Chukwueze among others, but the bookmakers still have the Rossoneri as favourites.
The well-known journalist Giancarlo Padovan spoke during a column for Calciomercato.com and he highlighted the three reasons he believes Milan are the favourites for the game despite their injury issues.
“It will be still be Milan-Juventus. Without Maignan, deputy Sportiello, Theo Hernandez, Loftus Cheek, Chukwueze, Krunic (only for the bench) on one side. Without Danilo, Alex Sandro, Pogba, Fagioli and Chiesa (at most on the bench) on the other,” he begins.
“It will be Milan-Juventus and Milan will start as favourites in any case. Firstly, because I really want to see how the Juventus defenders (among whom Rugani stands out) will contain Leao.
“Second, because the Juventus midfield has less quality, strength (with the exception of Rabiot), dynamism and initiative than the AC Milan midfield.
“Third, because Milan is a collective, while Juve is a jumble, sometimes out of breath, of individuals who have not yet escaped their own mediocrities.
“However, I have heard it listed among the few advantages for the Bianconeri, the fact that Allegri’s team does not play in European competitions. Which is universally recognised, but has nothing to do with Milan-Juve which is played before the Rossoneri’s match in Paris, against Paris Saint Germain.
“Juve will have the benefit of resting and training in the next match (against Verona), while Napoli-Milan, the next direct clash, will see two teams equally tired from their European commitments.
“My most critical readers and, perhaps, Madama fans will wonder why I give so little credit to their team. The most convincing answer lies in the words of their coach, Massimiliano Allegri who, as soon as he hears about Juve being a candidate for the Scudetto, sends back certain flattering statements to the sender.
“For Allegri, and for me too, Juve will at most finish between third and fourth place, everything else is in the imagination of the fans or those journalists who would like to pin the manager to some other responsibility.
“Not that I’m ‘cheerful’, but thinking of Juve winning the Scudetto is pure illusion. Why should it be? If last year, for points scored on the pitch, they finished third and in the summer they only acquired Weah, now losing Pogba and Fagioli in that order, why would they be better?
“In my opinion, however, Milan have greater structure (especially in midfield) and a belief in their abilities which, far from making them unbeatable, gives them a mentality open to victory, sought even in moments of lesser strength. The difference, therefore, lies in the two teams and, above all, in the two coaches.
“Even though Allegri has won infinitely more than Pioli, the AC Milan player has come further along the path of training towards modernity. Milan is a more European team due to its pace and intensity.
“Not only does Juventus not have it, but they also tend to drag their opponent into their low profile. Apart from the clear success against Lazio, the Bianconeri have won (and will win) always by speculating, paying attention, starting again. Without ever imposing the stamp of his own game and ideas.
“Pioli, who at the beginning was an old Italianist, now puts the game at the centre of the pitch , that ‘invisible thread’, as Arrigo Sacchi calls it, capable of binding the entire team.
“Even if it is rarely within thirty metres, Milan defends high, attacks with five-six men and engages in pure system duels (read one on one) in defence.
“A team that is at least as courageous as Juve is proceeding with caution. In addition to seeing each other on the pitch, this will determine the result.”
