GdS: Milan ‘impenetrable’ – how Allegri’s ‘double barrier’ has transformed the defence

AC Milan have kept eight clean sheets already this season before the end of November, which is testament to Massimiliano Allegri’s work on the defence.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall, Milan have conceded only one goal – from a Kevin De Bruyne penalty – in the big matches against Roma, Inter, Napoli, Bologna and Juventus. When it matters, Milan put up a wall.

Numbers

Let’s start with some data: Milan have a low centre of gravity (49.2 metres as the average line height) while remaining short in terms of distance between the departments (32.5m), and their ball recovery is also particularly conservative (33.1m).

Despite this, at certain moments in the game Allegri asks his players to suddenly increase the pressure. However, this remains an exception not the rule, as confirmed by the PPDA index, which measures a team’s aggressiveness in pressing.

Indeed, the Rossoneri are actually last in Serie A in this area. More than a flaw, it’s a deliberate choice: generally speaking, Milan likes to wait for their opponents, inviting them to open up and then strike in counter-attacks.

How do Milan defend?

When not in possession, at the start of the move, Allegri’s 3-5-2 usually transforms into a 4-5-1. The centre-forward (previously Santiago Gimenez, now Rafael Leao) disrupts the passing lane for the opposing playmaker rather than applying pressure. Thus, they guide where the ball then goes.

The second striker (Christian Pulisic usually) drops back to the midfield line, while the two full-backs slide into a five-man defence. By remaining compact, Milan leaves very little space between their rearguard and midfield, effectively forming a ‘double barrier’ that’s difficult to breach.

When Milan must defend a lead against particularly formidable opponents in the closing stages, they know how to dig in even further, as they did in the derby or with ten men against Napoli. It’s no coincidence that they’ve faced the most crosses in their own penalty area in Serie A.

In addition to the defensive duels it’s worth highlighting the incredible sacrifice of Luka Modric, who essentially transforms himself into being a breakwater in front of the centre-backs, who deal more with aerial bombardment.

Thus, Milan have become ‘impenetrable’. And if anything does get through, there’s always Mike Maignan there as a last line of defence, someone who has certainly rediscovered his magic.