Milan, defense from chills. Tomori recovers for Atletico in the Champions League?

The last time Milan conceded 4 goals were different times. You understand this by looking at the bill: February 2020 Inter-Milan 4-2. Conti holder, Paquetà among the reserves, Saelemaekers on the bench and Bonaventura in the Rossoneri. This time, 650 days later, Jack played from 1 ‘in Fiorentina’s 4-3 at the Pioli band, vulnerable in defense more than any other time. Defeat for the first time in the league. Italian is Stefano’s black beast by the way, and this is not the first trip he makes: last season, February 2021, Milan lost the lead by losing to La Spezia. This time Vincenzo took the unbeaten scepter from him after 208 days.

Fragility

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Beyond the mistakes of Tatarusanu, almost flawless in the other seasonal releases, another fact leaps to the eyes: in the last 13 matches between Serie A and Champions, Milan have kept a clean sheet only on a couple of occasions, against Venice and Turin at San Siro. Then he always conceded at least one goal. Four from Viola, one from Inter and Rome, 2 in Bologna, another couple from Atalanta and Verona and so on. Another key point: the Franchi lacked two thirds of the starting defense, Calabria and Tomori, with Romagnoli on the bench for 90 ‘(fresh from the physical problem he had in the derby). In his place he played Gabbia, fourth central in the Piolian hierarchy, someone who up to now had only seen an hour against Venezia. The absence of English was felt most of all: “Fik” is a certainty, always present in all 16 games, a loyalist. Stopped by a hip problem, Pioli hopes to recover him in view of Atletico (“But I’m not sure,” he said last night after the game). Race from inside or outside to hope for the second round.

Solidity

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Milan find themselves fragile where they felt safer, because last year the Champions League qualification came thanks to an iron defense, locking the door after the three goals collected at the Olimpico with Lazio. It was April 26, the second defeat in a row after the one against Sassuolo. After that debacle there were 4 wins and a draw without ever conceding a goal: Benevento, Juve, Turin, Cagliari and Atalanta. Also this year, with Maignan between the posts and the starting defense, 3 clean sheets arrived in the top 5 (Sampdoria, Lazio, Venice). From then on only one, at home against Taurus. Pioli must regain solidity.